P to P – Works by Li Shun and Yao Peng

“The Ambiguity between Reflection and Painting”

For Leo Gallery’s new space in Hong Kong, we launch “P to P”, a joint exhibition by Li Shun and Yao Peng, curated by Mok Wai Hong. The aim of this exhibition is to explore the reciprocal and ambiguous relationship between photography and painting through the works of these two artists.

Li and Yao originate from different backgrounds unlike one another. They both chose painting as their tool of expression, though their creative approaches differ. Li’s works include photography, digital calligraphy, drawing and painting to demonstrate his philosophical concepts. Yao uses collage and oil painting with the sense of photo imagery to narrate his stories.

Li creates his “Brave New World” series with his “Wandering System”. During pandemic, he was staying at home and to see the outside world with Google Map. He selected photo images online, and drew their hyper-realistic negative images by hand. Then he photographed these negative imaged drawings to recreate the positive photo images again. Its result deceives the camera, the computer and the audience.

Yao’s latest series, “The Fog of Time” features works up to three meters in length. His creative process is based on the digestion and recreation of images. He selects the online images that will trigger his eager of expression and painting and tries to perceive his world with a computer screen.

Both artists’ works integrate their life experiences, philosophies, traditional painting techniques and self invented creative methods.