Lam Wong | The World Won't Listen

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Lam Wong, “The Pat,” no date

(Image courtesy Lam Wong and THIS Gallery)

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 7 from noon to 4pm.

Lam Wong, a Chinese-Canadian artist renowned for his evocative and contemplative works, continues to delve into profound themes with his upcoming solo exhibition. In his new exhibition Lam Wong: The World Won’t Listen, Wong draws inspiration from The Smiths' song Ask (1986) with the poignant lyric, "If it is not love, then it’s a bomb, a bomb, a bomb, that will bring us together…" This exhibition assembles a selection of paintings that encapsulate Wong's reflections on the state of the world, both historically and in its present tumultuous condition. The exhibition resonates with urgency and a somber contemplation of our collective fate: "If we don’t learn how to love, then we perhaps don’t deserve to live. The stakes are high."

This exhibition is not an isolated inquiry but rather an extension of Wong's consistent exploration of existential themes and the human condition. Throughout his career, Wong has been committed to using his art as a medium for meditation on life, interdependence, and the pressing issues of our times. His previous works, such as the installation ‘MA No.1 - The Space Between Objects’ (Griffin Art Projects, 2019), have often navigated the delicate balance between hope and despair, love and conflict, inviting viewers to engage in introspection and dialogue.

There will be an opening reception and the artist will be in attendance. Simultaneously, there is an opening reception for Wong's curatorial project featuring work by Marian Penner Bancroft down the hall at Canton-Sardine. Wong will be present at both events.

Artist Bio

Lam Wong (b. 1968, Xiamen, Fujian, China) is a visual artist and curator who immigrated from Hong Kong to Canada during the 1980s and studied design, art history and painting in Alberta and British Columbia. Wong works with painting, installation and performance to engage with themes such as the perception of reality, the role of art and the relationship between time, memory and space. He sees art-making as an ongoing spiritual practice and his work draws upon his knowledge of Western art history and his interest in Taoism and Buddhism. Wong’s creative approach is often concerned with blending Eastern philosophies and challenging the notion of painting.

Lam Wong has been based in Vancouver BC since 1998. He has recently exhibited his work and performed at Campbell River Art Gallery, Canton-sardine, Centre A, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Gallery 881, Griffin Art Projects, Larroque Arts Festival, Unit 17, Walter Phillips Gallery, Western Front, and Vancouver Art Gallery.