Évènement

Wallace Chan, Titans

A dialogue between materials, space and time

‘TITANS: A dialogue between materials, space and time’, curated by James Putnam, will feature a series of large-scale titanium and iron sculptures and an immersive installation composed of titanium and mirrored stainless steel, giving an unprecedented survey of Chan’s work as a sculptor. Together, this new body of work conveys Chan’s contemplation on the relationship between materials, space and time through titanium: a futuristic, space-age material that has long been the subject of his experimental impulses. 
 
Wallace Chan is one of the world’s most celebrated jewellery artists, but his accomplishments in sculpture – an art form that he has been practicing for almost half a century – are less well known. As a carving apprentice at aged 16, opaque stones such as malachite, jade and coral were his materials, and auspicious Chinese motifs were his inspiration. Chan developed his skills and learnt the art of Western sculpture by visiting Christian cemeteries and admiring the marble sculptures of saints and angels. After six months of devoted monkhood in the early 2000s and, having given up all his possessions, Chan found himself in the complete absence of artistic resources. However, his passion for sculpture compelled him to create works using affordable materials like concrete, copper and stainless steel. 
 
Whatever his medium, Chan is always driven by a fascination with materials and a desire to push them beyond their limits. Titanium, named after the immortal ‘Titans’ in Greek mythology, is the strongest, most durable and lightweight metal. Mainly used in the aerospace industry, titanium has been overlooked by artists due to its cost and complex production process. After many years of careful research and experimentation, Chan developed a method of working with titanium initially for his jewellery and more recently for his large-scale sculptures. Today, he is employing a range of sculpture techniques: from modelling and casting to carving, welding and assembling, to create titanium sculptures that are very rarely seen on this scale. 
 
The free-standing sculpture series, A Dialogue between Materials and Time, explores the juxtaposition between the lightness and durability of titanium with iron’s weightiness and susceptibility to corrosion. With the russet, oxidised iron making a striking contrast to the titanium’s polished silver surface, the materials evoke the passage of time, since iron will eventually rust away while the titanium could last for eternity. The central motif of these majestic, semi-figurative sculptures, which stand up to 3 metres tall, is a colossal head whose facial features are serene yet strong, with a peaceful aura reminiscent of a deity statue. The head is distorted and elongated, almost anamorphic and androgynous, simultaneously ancient and somewhat extraterrestrial. 
 
 
Chan’s site-specific installation, A Dialogue between Materials and Space, explores the illusion of space inside non-space. The piece refers directly to Chan’s celebrated ‘Wallace Cut’, a unique technique of carving gemstones that he developed in the 1980s. Inspired by the photography technique of multiple exposure, Chan can create the illusion of 3D engraving inside gemstones. Five faces appear, but only the central one is carved; the faces on either side are merely reflections. Similarly, in this new immersive installation, Chan uses light and reflection to produce a unique spatial effect that invites the viewer to interact with and become part of the work. The artist’s use of mirrored stainless steel is a nod to Venice’s history as the most important centre for mirror production from the 16th century and an homage to a city that has been a constant source of inspiration for him. 
 
 
Date: 
Jeudi, mai 20, 2021 - Dimanche, octobre 31, 2021
lu ma me je ve sa di
 
 
 
 
 
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Price: 
Free