As the exclusive representative for David LaChapelle in Asia, de Sarthe Fine Art today proudly announced the opening of its second major exhibition in Hong Kong with a collection of new work by photographer and artist David LaChapelle, which will be on exhibit from May 25 to July 2 and marks his first ever visit and exhibition in the city.
The exhibition entitled “The Raft” features two chapters – with the centerpiece “The Raft of Illusion: Raging Toward Truth II” and its studies and sketches; and three pieces inspired by the film posters of the Chinese American icon Bruce Lee.
Both chapters employ the process of collage – “The Raft” in a more traditional cut photographic epic montage of LaChapelle photographs; whereas the “Bruce Lee” collection is created completely in camera with elaborate sets that act as actual collage pieces utilizing extremes of scale, and not digital composites, which are theatrically staged and then photographed whole. There is also an existential itinerary at work here that links these to very different applications of photography.
During the opening, LaChapelle explains that his inspiration behind the collection came after his first trip to China in Beijing last year, “With a deep curiosity I wanted to understand as much as I could of its rich cultural history and relationship with the West of the new and the old, the extreme and subtle – its an idea that would take many lifetimes to uncover. Even though I am an American newly introduced to China, I wanted to make pictures specifically for this part of the world from my personal perspective. China touched me in such an intense way and I hope I will journey there more and spend much time in this intriguing awe-inspiring place. With much anticipation I am pleased to be visiting Hong Kong for my first time.”
The exhibition centerpiece “The Raft of Illusion: Raging Toward Truth II” explores the reconciliation between man and nature – the horse representing the human idea of ownership of another living being, the taming and controlling of nature to serve humankinds needs. The storm represents the struggles and darkness we all endure on our earthly journey towards enlightenment; the self created turmoil we manifest in our lives when we stray from our own personal moralities.
LaChapelle explains his aim of this piece was to create an aggressive depiction illuminating the notion of cause and effect. People are posing like in a Hollywood movie – the drama, the artifice and the authentic. The complexities of living in ever accelerating time while the attempting to navigate through all illusions, a quest for truth – the desire to live a higher life in all its fullness that will allow us a peaceful sleep and safe passage.
In the “Bruce Lee” collection, LaChapelle uses quotes from the Dao. As an American studying philosophy and theology, he looks at this book as a guide for living. Bruce Lee holds a special place in history as a person who navigated the paradoxical worlds of Hong Kong and Hollywood, elevating martial arts through a discipline and strength of mind and body the marriage of the spiritual and the physical. He had one foot in the artifice of action film and the other in a transcendent world, enlightening and inspiring people still today. Being one of the most famous Chinese Americans he was a stereotype destroyer and a creator of the magical, mystical, and heroic.
“We are thrilled to present this exhibition by David LaChapelle. Having broken free from constraints of the fashion world, LaChapelle can best be described as a witness of our society, and uses photography as a means to understand the world in way that aims to engage and connect with people about the challenges we face,” said Pascal de Sarthe, founder of de Sarthe Fine Art, and who as the exclusive representative for David LaChapelle in Asia is responsible for his traveling exhibition that started at the MOCA Taipei in Taiwan in 2010.
The exhibition is also supported by the Champagne house Perrier-Jouët and Absolut Vodka.
During his stay in Hong Kong, LaChapelle will be participating in the opening press conference for the Hong Kong International Art Fair (Art HK 11) on May 25; screening his film Rize for a private event for FilmAid Asia; and participating in the Intelligence Squared Asia debate about “Art Must Be Beautiful” to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre during Art HK 11 on May 27.
