Chow Chun Fai at Klein Sun Gallery

Hong Kong artist Chow Chun Fai paints stills from Hong Kong films, including this distillation of loneliness from Wong Kar-wai’s 1994 classic Chung King Express. Filmed just three years before Hong Kong’s return to China, the movie is about failed relationships and new beginnings, a position that interests Chow Chun Fai as Hong Kong heads towards socialist governance by 2047. (At Klein Sun Gallery in Chelsea through Nov 12th).

Chow Chun Fai, Chungking Express – Tears, oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 59 inches, 2016.
Chow Chun Fai, Chungking Express – Tears, oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 59 inches, 2016.

Miao Xiaochun at Klein Sun Gallery

Taking the doubts of Christ’s disciple Thomas as subject matter, Beijing-based artist Miao Xiaochun attempts a radical transformation of his own, departing from traditional art-making techniques to explore how hand drawing on canvas from 3D models might energize his paintings. (At Klein Sun Gallery through Oct 8th).

Miao Xiaochun, Zero Degree Doubt, acrylic on linen, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 inches, 2015.
Miao Xiaochun, Zero Degree Doubt, acrylic on linen, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 inches, 2015.

Li Hongbo at Klein Sun Gallery

Beijing-based artist Li Hongbo’s installation at Klein Sun Gallery creates a powerful creature from prosaic materials, if you interpret a snaking line of giant binder clips as a dragon. Textbooks flap like birds in the air above, pave a pathway below, and are carved into the shape of students at desks in the back of the gallery, all begging the question of how education might have the power to shape a society. (In Chelsea through Feb 13th).

 Li Hongbo, installation view of ‘Textbooks’ at Klein Sun Gallery, January 2016.

Shen Shoamin at Klein Sun Gallery

Unwary gallery-goers are likely to think they’ve walked into Klein Sun Gallery during installation when they see Beijing & Sydney-based artist Shen Shoamin’s paintings propped against the wall and encased in bubblewrap. The plastic is an illusion, however, painted on over blurry images of Warhol-derived soup cans to create the artist’s own take on art-world consumerism. (Through May 2nd).

Shen Shoamin, Handle with Care No 10 and No 12, oil on canvas, each 35 x 23 ¼ inches, 2014.

Liu Bolin at Klein Sun Gallery

Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin pictures himself in this larger-than-life sculpture going through airport security. Contrary to the freedom of flying, the artist describes this gesture as abandoning independence and offering a prayer for safety. Covered in designs based on snack food packaging, Liu Bolin simultaneously suggests identity further compromised. (At Chelsea’s Klein Sun Gallery through Nov 1st).

Liu Bolin, Security Check No 1, acrylic on copper, 80 ¾ x 37 3/8 x 21 5/8 inches, 2014.