WHAT

Ten new paintings and two sets of related drawings by Jonas Wood are presented for the artist’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. The concept for the exhibition grew from the artist’s show at the Dallas Museum of Art in 2019, when he reencountered Polka Dot Orchid (2015), a painting he had made of a single plant against a black background. Thus he was inspired to further experiment with colour and geometry by creating works on black grounds, all the time using plant motifs. Wood planned the installation from his studio in Los Angeles, knowing that he would not be able to travel to Hong Kong due to quarantine restrictions; the architectural model that was used to plan the exhibition – an essential part of his creative process – appears in the catalogue.

WHY

Similar to artists such as Cézanne, Matisse, and David Hockney, Jonas Wood also uses still-life painting as a means to explore shapes and forms, taking inspiration from his own plant specimens as well as images from magazines. As a new transplant from the East coast to Los Angeles back in 2003, the artist was always astounded by the native vegetation of southern California. The tropical plants featured in his works reflect not only his own houseplants, but also southern California’s climate and cultural identity, merging art and life. Pay close attention and you’ll also find the recurring motif of the basketball, revealing the artist’s love of sport.