This July, Ode To Art Gallery is showcasing the works of Max Kong, one of Singapore’s fastest emerging artists. This is part of Ode To Art’s dedication to raise the profiles of Singaporean artists, hoping to further nourish the local art scene. Multifaceted and layered with not only physical, but conceptual complexities in stroke, “Where Do I Begin” is indeed an apt encapsulation of the adroit artist’s works. The upcoming solo exhibition will feature a total of 15 newest artworks of explorative abstraction by Max Kong.

Influenced by great abstract creatives, such as Robert Ryman, and the cultural integrations our globalized world has placed in front of in inhabitants, Kong aims to extend the limitations of the material and aesthetic, incorporating essential artistic elements such as pattern and systematic spacing with unconventional mediums and form that mimic the ordinary in a displaced perspective.

From cement screed to woodworked shading, Kong places and displaces, spontaneously applying material and paint to follow the natural textures and variants of his unique canvases - the artist is a strong adherer to a thought process of “how to paint” rather than “what to paint"

Kong is particularly interested in the use of colours and basic geometry. His paintings are the epitome of abstract; they are transmutations of the patterns of chaos and order in our world. Kong has a penchant for painting directly on the canvas, seeing it as an interactive process rather than one that is structured. He paints at will, often tapping into his subconscious mind and giving his unfettered creativity free rein.

This unique style of painting —and accidental effects— engages viewers, leaving them to their own interpretations of the works. It invites them to deconstruct and decode Kong's method of painting. More than just viewing pleasures, Kong’s works encourage thinking.

-Ode to Art

Image: © Max Kong
Courtesy of the artist and Ode to Art