Leo Gallery | Hong Kong
CHILL or COOL - works by Noah Deledda & Yang Yang
Curated by MOK Wai Hong
"Chill or Cool"
The Origin
Leo Gallery invites you to explore the creative worlds of two artists with different nationalities, whose works vary in medium but share the same state of being "chill or cool".
"Chill" (pronounced HEA in Cantonese slang) means casualness and laziness today, but in the Jin and Tang dynasties, "chill" meant relaxed. Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy, was a prime example of being "chill". The "Records of Famous Paintings of the Tang Dynasty" noted that Wei Yan's paintings had "elevated and leisurely thoughts". While the English word "cool" in the context of Cantonese means "stylish".
The two artists are respectively Yang Yang from Hangzhou in China and Noah Deledda from Florida in the US. Through their unique artistic languages and insights, they present a visually pleasing Happy Hour that blends rigidity and softness across cultures and regions. This allows everyone to appreciate meticulous artistic creations with a relaxed mindset during the scorching summer, temporarily escaping the harshness of reality and inspiring thoughts on the diversity and boundlessness of art.
Stylish and Cool Soda Cans
Sculptor Noah Deledda from Florida has garnered widespread attention with his stylish soda can (aluminum can) sculptures. Deledda shares, “The aluminum can is such a familiar object. When it is presented in a new way, it really captures the imagination. People can easily connect with it because of its familiarity.”
Using his hands, Deledda reshapes discarded metal cans, imbuing them with artistic soul and value, turning them into sculptures that combine the industrial aesthetic of rigidity with the vibe of contemporary art. His works not only showcase the environmental concept of material reuse, each can is but full of tension and visual impact. Observing his creative process, one cannot help but marvel that he has not only created a new artistic language but that his works also possess the power to heal the soul.
Casual and Spontaneous Straws
On the other hand, artist Yang Yang from Hangzhou, a graduate of the China Academy of Art, has eyes full of innocence and the wisdom of Jiangnan's culture. She worked diligently, then resigned cheerfully, just to go on spontaneous trips. Her paintings, like herself, capture the beauty of nature in everyday moments, thus creating works themed around straws and sports fields. Combining unconventional color structures with meticulous composition and integrating the freedom and agility of contemporary art with her plain brushstrokes, she conveys her inner struggle for liberality and expresses her unique perspective towards the world.
The exhibition title "Chill or Cool" is intended to catch the eye of the audience, while the content is both stylish and heuristic. The audience will ultimately experience the microcosm of art formed by the collision and fusion of the "chill" and "cool" mindset of the artists. We hope that you can feel the diversity and inclusiveness of art, discover the beauty and miracles in life, and gain endless inspiration and enlightenment.
Finally, the exhibition attempts to highlight the value of art through seemingly everyday settings, enriching the visual experiences of our visitors. We thank the artists for their contributions, the support and arrangements from the Leo Gallery team, and the collaboration with AI in creating this foreword. Though we navigated through an efficient start and a challenging finish, overall, the existence of AI is highly appreciated.
We look forward to your visit and hope you discover every carefully crafted detail in this unique and elegant gathering of "Chill or Cool".
