Joey Chan
Re BoV
Painted in 2019, this piece is a reimagination of one of the most iconic Renaissance paintings - the Birth of Venus. Re BoV serves as a stark contrast to Bottecelli’s iconic painting. God and goddess of wind- Zephyr and Aura within the mythological composition, are displaced by a flaming, wagering background war zone in Re BoV. This signifies the painter’s disapproval of human's inherit need of seeking explanations about the origin and nature of the world through different means including greek methodology. Rather, the painter accepts the world as it is - imperfect, chaotic and raw. The painter believes the search for reasons does not lead to harmony. True order comes from within oneself. The painter presents the complex relational concept of one's soul and her(his) surroundings through the interweaving strokes between the air and the devine figure in the middle. In essence, in order we find chaos, in chaos we find order.
Symbolisms
Throughout the piece, the painter placed significant emphasis on symbolisms. The fervently flowing hair symbolises strength, liberty and immortality. The hair also appears to be the extension of the subject, the close-knitted connection between inner order and the chaotic state. (If possible, the painter wants to add AR effects to the hair drawing the audiences into the painting. ) The composition of contrasting, bold and visceral colours aims to evoke all sensory departments of the audiences.
The painter explores the pervasive ideas of masculinity and femininity throughout art history - the figure embodies representation of masculine virility and sensual femininity. The figure is designed to be gender neutral to express ageless ambiguity as if s(he) is daring us to desire her(him).
