About Us
Ignition Contemporary Art is dedicated to advancing the development and innovation of contemporary art. As its first touring project, the Ignition Project aims to expand the boundaries of contemporary art and explore new artistic possibilities. Our vision is to present artworks created within different cultural and political contexts, thus revealing unique perspectives brought about by the intersection of globalisation and cultural biases.The Ignition Project anticipates that these works will offer audiences novel sensory experiences and collisions of thoughts. Through such endeavours, we hope to bring more surprises and inspiration to the scene of contemporary art.
At Daybreak
When sunlight struggles to pierce the darkest hour of the night, and dreams are at their most vivid, the moment at daybreak marks an ambiguous state of transition that defies binary distinctions. This threshold moment, imbued with ambivalent, undefinable, and heterotopic qualities, is captured by its Japanese term ' 夜明け' (yoake). Literally meaning 'the night becoming bright,’ the two kanji characters ‘ 夜明’ symbolises a journey from the unknown to the known, where creativity and a discovery of truth emerge through the very act of crossing, transitioning, and navigating ambiguity. The Ignition Project’s debut exhibition, At Daybreak, brings together the works of Himani Gupta, Ling Pui Sze, Natasha Malik, Qian Qian, and Amy Steel to explore how the poetics of liminality and ambivalence hold the potential to ignite their creative praxis of everyday worldmaking.
Opening:
3 April, 2024 18:00 – 20:00
Address:
30 Tottenham Street, London
W1T 4RJ
Curator: Sophie Guo; Producers: Faye Sun, Simon Sang; Visual Director: Aiqi Zhang
Himani Gupta
Oil, acrylic, upcycled textile, pigment,
paper, resin on canvas
336cm × dimensions variable
Oil and pigment on linen
213 × 122 cm
Himani Gupta
“I am interested in observing the movement of people through the ecosystems they create and occupy, and recording these experiences. This consists of built environment and physical spaces such as land and cities, and also of bodies, lines, organic forms and nature. The possibility of layering these elements, experiences and studies and expressing them through images drives my practice.”
Ling Pui Sze
Mixed media on canvas
29.5 × 21 cm
Mixed media on canvas
50.5 × 40 cm
The Piano Tuner
Kuo Chiang Sheng
“In times of turbulence, we all need to know how to become in tune with ourselves.”
Natasha Malik
Watercolour on wasli
53 × 35 cm
Watercolour on wasli
53 × 35 cm
Watercolour and shell gold on paper
50 × 37 cm
“The formative years of Malik’s artistic practice focused on specialising in Indo-Persian miniature painting, particularly its history and traditional techniques. Her multi-media approach, which is rooted in this tradition, draws from its rich visual vocabulary, whilst addressing contemporary concerns around the female body, sexuality, loss, and memory. She deepens these investigations by challenging the foundation of Indo-Persian miniature painting, in the context of regional history, culture and colonialism.”
Qian Qian
Watercolor, pencil and acrylic on
archival board
56 × 76 cm
Watercolor on archival board
56 × 76 cm
Oil on canvas
12 × 16 in
Oil on canvas
70 × 100 cm
“Qian Qian’s works delve into topics such as quantum consciousness, interconnectedness, identity, transhumanism, and cultural hybridity, aiming to bridge the gap between ancient belief systems and modern science.”
Amy Steel
Oil on canvas
50 × 35 cm
Oil on canvas
50 × 45 cm
Oil on canvas
135 × 100 cm
Oil and watercolour on canvas
120 × 180 cm
“Steel’s pieces not only demonstrate a keen observation of female emotions but also challenge societal stereotypes regarding gender and the body. Within her work, viewers can perceive a strong sense of power and freedom, as well as an exploration and celebration of female sexuality. Through her artistic practice, Steel guides audiences into a visually stimulating world filled with challenges and reflections, sparking profound contemplation on gender, the body, and emotions.”
©2024 Ignition Project.
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