Weekly Topics
Rings on Fire” by Phil Akashi
Phil Akashi is a Belgian-born artist based in Hong Kong, who explores and reinvents the functionality of traditional Asian seals with a broad range of media. His “Rings on Fire”solo exhibition at Fabrik Gallery opens on Wednesday October 28th, and all collectors and art lovers are invited to join and meet the artist. Fascinated with the aesthetic of Asian characters and passionate about Asian seals, Akashi has built his artistic identity with an Asian essence. He chose the pseudonym "Akashi" meaning “bright stone” to express his love for the multi-faceted Japanese culture. Living in China, he has also created a Chinese name "涛程" meaning "big wave journey" – the artist intentionally reversed the two characters to play with the rules, and to make his Chinese name unique.
Akashi is currently participating in the Swatch Art Peace Hotel Artist Residency in Shanghai as an artist in residence for six months. He was selected by the Swatch Artists Selection Committee, composed by François-Henri Pinault; George Clooney; Nayla and Nick Hayek; Esther Grether; Mikhail Kusnirovich; and Sir Francis Yeoh.
Akashi has participated in solo and group exhibitions in Belgium, China, Hong Kong and the USA, in prestigious locations such as the Centre for Fine Art (Brussels), the European Parliament (Brussels), the Power Station of Art (Shanghai), the Bund (Shanghai), the Nanjing International Art Festival (Nanjing) and the South Island Cultural District (Hong Kong). His works are held in private collections worldwide, and have been featured in international publications such as the Guggenheim, Momatalks, Artribune, Fine Art International, Rolling Stone, Juxtapoz and Blouin Artinfo.
RINGS ON FIRE I, II, III (2014-2015)
In the Rings on Fire trilogy series, Akashi explores the institution of marriage – he wants viewers to question the meaning of marriage and its effect on happiness. To do this, the artist rejuvenates the functionality of the Double Happiness character "囍” commonly used in China as a decoration and symbol of marriage. The first chapter of the trilogy - Tradition - refers to the social and cultural values of marriage, and is executed using cinnabar paste on Xuan paper.
The second chapter - Challenge - explores the contemporary revolution in marriage and its consequences; it is printed on fine art paper, with splashed ink. The series final chapter - Wisdom of Happiness – ends with an ultimate question: is marriage both a cause and an effect of happiness?