Soh Souen’s Tender Search for Life On View in Hong Kong

Description

Soh Souen is known for exploring human nature through phenomena closely connected to life, such as breathing, bellybuttons and eggs. My Tender Passion, Tender Patience marks the Japanese artist’s solo debut in the city, bringing multimedia works, spanning painting, video and installation, to offer an overview of his quest for “life.” Highlights include “Again and Again,” an intimate, ongoing series of two-dimensional pastel works presented on an extensive scale for the first time. Taking the artist several years to create, the series turns the canvas into skin, exploring how clothing and adornments come into contact with the human body.

Another piece in the spotlight is “Eggsercise,” a performance work first presented in 2022. Featured in the exhibition through archival video, the performance is governed by one simple rule: “Place a raw egg – a symbol of life – within a hollow of the body, and move without allowing it to fall.” The idea came during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting the artist to reflect on the fragility of bodies in wartime and the complexities of anti-war sentiment.

The exhibition’s opening reception will be held on 5 September from 16:00 to 20:00, with the artist in attendance.