Lacrimae Rerum
WHAT
This exhibition marks the Scottish artist’s first solo show in Asia, and it depicts a number of apocalyptic paintings. The name of the exhibition comes from the Latin phrase from Book 1 of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’, and this translates to ‘the tears of things’, referring to themes of crisis, violence, technology and more on the contemporary experience. Expounding on these themes, viewers will see a number of bodies piled upon each other highlighted by spritzes of colour, discussing problems of the world today. The Ukrainian flag is visible in one painting and a rainbow, likely representing the LGBTQ+ community, is seen in another.
WHY
The artist has had a unique artistic career and it is one that has uniquely shaped the perspectives presented in the exhibition. He was a war artist in Bosnia in the 1990s and as a result, has confronted the idea of human conflict and destruction throughout his life. Bold and unapologetic, he chooses to integrate the horrors of the real world into his works, painting the reality of the current times to his audience.