Gordon Cheung
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Gordon CheungTulip Futures 01 (SAVAGE) , 2024Midjourney, Krea and Photoshop; Print: Giclée on Hahnemühle Photo Rag
‘Tulip Futures’ reflects on the history of capitalism and its relationship with modernity. AI is used to create images of Dutch Golden Age tulips over 370 years ago in reference to what is considered to be the birth of Modern Capitalism and the first recorded economic bubble called Tulipmania. The works are set within a ‘vaporwave’ landscape: an internet art movement that emerged in the early 2010s known for its nostalgic and sometimes ironic commentary on consumerism, capitalism, and the digital age. The artwork is a physical print and also digital art on the blockchain. Bitcoin epitomises blockchain technology, a pillar of the fourth industrial revolution and was disparagingly referred to as a Tulip bubble by the traditional centralised bankers. By leveraging AI tools, "Tulip Futures" invites a philosophical contemplation of the nature of reality, perception, and economy in an increasingly digitized world. It offers an imaginative framework to critically engage with the intersections of history, technology, and human experience, fostering a deeper understanding of the human complexities inherent in our collective pursuit of meaning and prosperity. Reflecting on how our understanding of the future landscape is influenced by past events and present technologies. It can also signify existentially a landscape devoid of meaning or purpose, ecological degradation, dystopian societal collapse, technological dominance, and epistemological uncertainty. It prompts contemplation on the challenges of human knowledge and the choices we make in shaping our future.Digital: 33.18 x 59.4 cm, 13.06 x 23.39 in
Print: 59.4 x 41.9 cm, 23 1/2 x 16 1/2 in
Print Framed: 63.2 x 45.7 cm, 25 x 18 in -
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Gordon CheungFear And Greed, 2021Double walled clamshell box with supporting plinth, stamped in gold on the spine and front cover, covered in orange Italian Cialux bookcloth, all linked in turquoise Colorplan paper containing 10 Archival inkjet prints on Epson Hot Press Bright Fine Art Paper 300gsm
Edition of 10 plus 5 artist's proofs62.2 x 44.5 x 3.8 cm
24 1/2 x 17 1/2 x 1 1/2 in -
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Gordon Cheung is an internationally acclaimed multi-media artist who was born in 1975 in London to Chinese parents. His work is held in major museums, including The British Museum in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, to name a few.
Cheung’s artistic research is focused on exploring themes related to history, politics, culture, mythology, and religion. By employing an avant-garde approach to painting, he creates mesmerising spaces where the virtual and the actual worlds are no longer clearly discernible. His dreamlike visions are charged with symbolic elements and are generated through digital manipulations, appropriated images, and animations. Continuously striving to open up new dimensions for reflection, his work ponders over both past and current affairs in our capitalistic society, presenting an innovative artistic language that has gained him global reputation. Cheung obtained a Masters of Fine Arts from the Royal College of Art in London in 2001 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London in 1998.
Gordon Cheung is recognized for his mixed-media paintings that combine traditional and digital techniques, often incorporating materials such as acrylic paint, ink, collage elements, digital printing, and sometimes sculptural elements.
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Visual and Conceptual Impact: Cheung's use of different materials helps create visually engaging and complex artworks. The combination of various mediums, textures, and surfaces adds depth, layering, and richness to his paintings, evoking different emotions and symbolic meanings.
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Symbolism and Subject Matter: His choice of materials often relates to the themes and subjects explored. His paintings often address socio-political and economic issues, exploring the philosophical and spiritual complexities of the human condition via contemporary culture, global finance, and the rise and fall of civilizations. By incorporating materials like collaged newspaper clippings or currency, he references these themes.
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Technological and Cultural Commentary: Cheung's integration of digital techniques reflects the influence of technology and its impact on society. His combination of traditional painting methods with digital printing or manipulation can be seen as a commentary on the digital age, globalization, and the fusion of the virtual and physical realms.
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Experimentation and Personal Expression: Driven by experimentation, Cheung pushes the boundaries of his chosen medium. His exploration of diverse materials allows him to express his artistic vision in unique and innovative ways that question the identity of painting while rooted in his own identity as being in-between British and Chinese.
