WHAT
While Schwarzwald is interested in the writing of words as an act of drawing which, as a system of gestural practice, draws forth specific realities, Chan approaches the written word from the perspective of Chinese ideographs. The former has produced many ‘sets’ of gestural techniques, such as alphabetic languages, using a schematic vocabulary to compose ‘essays’. In comparison, Chan’s Chinese ideographic characters are already laden with pictorial references, and possess a visual existence that can be looked upon as ‘landscapes’.

WHY
Both artists are interested in how the written word evokes particular realities. With the two artists coming together in one exhibition, their separate languages and varying backgrounds and cultures allow us to see with multiple pairs of eyes. Their paintings create playful dialogues that activate the imagination of their audiences.