"Moment of Stillness"
Solo Show
Exhibition - "Moments of Stillness" - solo show
Moments of Stillness explores an intersection of nature and wellbeing through the paintings of Xuan Hew.
Coming from Malaysia, the artist longs for a connection with a climate different from what she’s used to. By collecting landscapes through lived and imagined experiences, Xuan Hew's paintings of mountain peaks and other natural forms propose a break from the rush of everyday life.
Just as nature, that grows from inside of Earth to outside,the works bring consciousness to the many layers that we, as humans, are made of. Moments of Stillness then becomes a space to inspire the act of pause and observation, to be able to feel the presence beyond the surface and feel connected to the places that we inhabit.
A series of prompts, along with an interactive piece, is placed around the space, suggesting reflections on mindfulness and sustainability. Feel free to create your own moment of stillness.
Curated and written by Júlia Mazzoni.
Reflection
As zoomed-in peaks are a signature element of my style, I transformed "The Alps I" and "The Alps II" into postcards and utilized "Alps II" for poster advertisements. I wanted these materials to effectively communicate my painting approach, so I chose the works that resonated most with me instead of more experimental pieces like "Alps IV."
My colleagues Julia Mazzoni and Wang Xin curated the show, playfully varying the heights of the displayed paintings to mimic how our eyes naturally traverse up and down while tracing the outlines and contours of towering mountains. Some pieces were positioned low on the floor, while others hung higher than usual, prompting viewers to shift their gaze accordingly as they would when observing peaks in person.
Quotes from the book "The Living Mountain" by Nan Shepherd were incorporated, perfectly encapsulating the profound sense of connectedness and insignificance one feels amidst mountains:
"It reminded me that the best mountain moments are always when you realize your insignificance and at the same time your connectedness to everything."
"When we climb the mountain, we find ourselves climbing within, unraveling the layers of our own being."
"The air is part of the mountain, it has its own air, and it is to the quality of its air that is due the endless diversity of its colourings. Every shade of blue is there."
These quotes eloquently expressed the sentiments I struggled to articulate about being surrounded by such grand natural wonders. Rather than the original lyrical playlist I had curated called "You're in Xuan's Painting," the exhibition featured the meditative and serene "Winter Music Box" to complement the artworks' contemplative quality, a decision made in collaboration with the curators.
All photos taken by Dennis Ngan.
"Winter Music Box" (https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=63d3-whkFY0&si=3OOkxOF_TEvIqnYr)
"You're in Xuan's Painting" (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsv4iKA9Deqa_MW6_l5O5eYnBG2ER9rqK)
Moment of Stillness blog post ( https://studio3peckhamlevels.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2024/05/07/moments-of-stillness/ )
Peckham levels (https://peckhamlevels.org/events/moments-of-stillness)
