In parallel to their participation at Art Stage, in which they will be featuring the famous Gao Brothers from China in a solo exhibition, Vue Privée will be exhibiting the works of two other contemporary artists at their gallery space for the months of January and February, in an exhibition titled Staging Art.
The works of American photographer and artist, Burton Machen capture his love of street art reminiscent of the modern masters he has exhibited alongside. Collage-like creations are set in urban landscapes in such way to capture his messages. Specially commissioned for this show, Burton has used Asian icons such as Lee Kuan Yew, Ai Weiwei, and Mao Zedong as his subject matters.
Contemporary visual artist, Aiman from Singapore uses oils, layer upon layer, applied to the canvas to portray the absurdity of conformity in society. His observance of the effort to become individualistic in an environment where collectivism still rules the day is evident in his rich works.
In complimentary contrast, the works of the Gao Brothers will be on display alongside these two talents. An extension of the solo exhibition at Art Stage, [vp] will feature additional artworks and sculptures from the dynamic duo.
A fusion of mediums and messages, this show promises to be thought-provoking and exciting.
About the Aritsts
AÍMAN
Singaporean contemporary visual artist and LaSalle graduate, Aíman, has been contributing to the art scene since graduating in 2004. Aímanʼs main subjects often deal with conformity in society, exploring the “absurd” notion of self-individuation in a culture where communal ideologies still dominate.
Aiman has capitalized on his creative platform as a means for activism, exhibiting his works both locally
and internationally, in art galleries and museum spaces including Vue Privée, Utterly Art, Gallerie Belvedere, National Art Gallery of Malaysia and the Sunshine International Museum in China for the 2010 Songzhuang Art Festival.
Gao Brothers
Gao Qian: 1962, born in Jinan, China
Gao Zhen: 1956 born in Jinan, China
Born in Jinan, China, Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang are two artist brothers based in Beijing, notorious for their outspoken expression exclusively through their art. They have been collaborating since the 1980s creating impressive works using multimedia poetics that draw upon diverse languages such as performance, photography, painting and sculpture.
The notion of art fostered by the Gao Brothers tends to posit itself as a permanent creativity and a welding of the different moments of existence. Because art is not an image of movement but a liberating process, thus engaging all their energies including the body, to critically address the space of life and establish a relation of communication with the community.
The Gao Brothers have exhibited at countless important galleries, museums and institutions, in major cities in China, the USA, Canada, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Germany, as well as staging their famous World Hug Day performance in China, USA, UK, France, Germany and Japan.
BURTON MACHEN
American photographer and artist, Burton Machen, was born in Ashville, Alabama in 1970; seduced by the television show Fame, he ran away from home to New York at the young age of 16, and has since lived in Washington DC, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Rio de Janeiro. Nowadays, he divides his time between Los Angeles and New York photographing street art and urban decadence.
Burtonʼs affection for Street Art lies with the collage-like masterpieces in urban terrains that are manifested through the collective efforts of contingent artists and incidental elements feeding-off and adding-on to each other. Thus, fuelling his conviction that street art is a compelling model for expression, perfectly capable of infiltrating and affecting our thoughts and attitudes without our awareness or consciousness.
Recently, Burton was included in 'The Whitney Art Party' and 'The Warholian', honored by Eric Shiner, the Director of The Andy Warhol Museum alongside other great artists like Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol.
