It was one year and a half ago since Pakeong’s last solo exhibition “Soul Out!” at the AFA Macao gallery, of which I was as well the curator. During the last 18 months, Pakeong has been working incessantly and have created a large number of artworks, as well as traveling to many different places for art exhibitions such as in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Lisbon and New York. The exhibition “Soul Out!” in February 2012 can be considered as Pakeong’s first major exhibition, which has launched his artistic career to a new height. After 2 years’ splendid experiences in the artistic path, Pakeong is now presenting his brand new works in his latest solo exhibition “Alchemy of Desire” at the AFA Beijing gallery.
This series of 19 new paintings and drawings is Pakeong’s latest attempt. What could be considered as a kind of autistic practice of focus and concentration in his previous black and white marker drawing is now being developed into further maturity in front of layers of spatial colorful background. The space between shapes and forms are being filled with an energetic aura. The symbolic meanings of the drawing contents are becoming more and more profound. The power of the subconscious is pervading from within and without, as if innumerable sentient beings are being caught in this purgatory in order to cleanse and redeem their souls.
The artist himself is going through process of rebirth time and time again. The old and the new Self are struggling against each other. The desire to breakthrough from the old pattern is fighting against the unfamiliar feeling of the new ground. The sensual excitement of the new has eventually won over the insecurity of the unknown, and is being burnt into the phoenix reborn.
Pakeong’s work is a wrestling between the abstract and the figurative; it is ambiguous and sharp at the same time. Wandering between two extremes, his work depicts thoroughly the struggle of human crave. Never work with draft of any kind, nor does he consciously control the outcome of his drawing and painting, Pakeong let the subconscious lead the way, revealing and accumulating layers and layers of dark desires, as if he is preparing an altar of Self sacrifice; such as a Mandala.
Pakeong’s “Alchemy of Desire” is his unstoppable fire of passion. On the way to reach the highest realm of realization, the flame is being burnt without holding back, so that consuming and emptying itself in any form it takes. Form is Emptiness. Emptiness is Form.
“All dharma is as illusion and fire; as shadow and feather; as image and dream. If thou see the truth in this view, the nature of everything is but empty and quiet.” -Mahavaipulya Sutra of the Inconceivable State of Tathagatas
- Alice Kok (Curator)
Courtesy of AFA Beijing
