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| Artist : | Simon Birch |
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| Date : | 30 November, 2006 - 10 February, 2007 |
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| Press Release |
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Attn Art Editors:
For December and January Monthly Magazines
PAINTER SIMON BIRCH EXPLODES INTO A NEW WAVE OF FIGURATIVE PAINTING WITH HIS NEW SHOW “THE ARMENIAN” AT 10 CHANCERY LANE GALLERY AND 10 CHANCERY LANE GALLERY ANNEX
NOVEMBER 30 2006 - FEBRUARY 10, 2007 - HONG KONG - Simon Birch's new works, entitled “The Armenian” invites the viewers into the question of identity within an international multicultural world. Birch is of Armenian dissent, born in England and lives and works in Hong Kong. Like many of us he questions who are we in this trans-cultural pandemic. How do we keep pride in our roots and yet establish ourselves in societies that we are just simply attracted to? How does one both look back and forward at the same time?
Simon Birch plays with this idea of identity in his explosive new works of gangsters and ballerinas - true beauty and the beast figures. Painted with such a force of energy they feel like they are about to blast off the canvas. He chose Asian figures because they represent his current contemporary world, yet he hides in the tattoos of the triad figures references to his Armenian heritage. “The core point was that [sic] Armenia had such a violent history and dramatic historical transitions, and so produced a huge displaced population that reinvented themselves worldwide.”
Violence prevails in his new body of work, but when looking at the violent nature of the subjects one finds a certain beauty and power. The gangsters, covered in tattoos and dressed grunge-style, feel serene and content in their portrayals. The ballerinas, on the contrary, represent angst, frustration and an almost electrical disturbance.
Simon's new works resonate a new energy as he dives further into figurative painting. He maintains his recognizable focus on the figure, with rudimentary backgrounds, and yet his brush and palette knife feel looser and edgier than in his earlier paintings. He employs Asian subjects to help us identify with contemporary life - both street culture and performing arts.
10 Chancery Lane Gallery is proud to invite you to the opening of Simon Birch's “The Armenian” on Thursday November 30th for a cocktail reception with the artist from 6:30-9pm.
For information and interviews contact Cleo Lam at 2810-0065 or info@10chancerylanegallery.com
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