An Underwater Kingdom (Exhibition review on "Gravitational Currents & The Life Magic" @Empty Gallery)

7 Nov 2018 | Ashley

An Empty Gallery experience is bound to give you the thrill. This one was no exception. But what's special about this time is that you open the doors to a mysterious underwater world. Welcome to Gravitational Currents & The Life Magic, a current exhibition at the Empty Gallery!

Reception @Empty Gallery
Again, like always, there was an ongoing droning sound which captured me that instant I set foot in the reception. Artist Susanne Wintering has placed a multi-channel sound-installation commissioned by Empty Gallery at the centre of the art space, namely Planetary Opera in Three Acts, divided by the currents, 2018. It is a hydrophone recording of algae, green turtles hatching, crabs rubbing their claws together and other ecological marvels. All of that together inevitably gave me an intense sensory reaction, where at times, the track seemed to devour you and snatch you away as the volume increased and disappeared at its climax.

Susanne Winterling, Flags of the Miracular (welcome to the algae empire), 2018 @Empty Gallery

As I moved inwards towards the cooling breeze (I do not know if I imagined it or it was something that the gallery does to secretly creep you out, I think it's just me), I was met with what they call Flags of the Miracular (welcome to the algae empire), 2018. This is an installation of flags with dinoflagellates printed on each of them held on by segments of bamboo. I felt like getting on a Disney ride with the pirates welcoming you to their haunted world of treasure and vice, except this time, I was entering the world of dinoflagellates, mysterious aquatic microorganisms which apparently "bloom" in response to unusually high temperatures or concentrations of pollutants.

Susanne Winterling, Meditation on Terraforming (a tribute to Marie Tharp)/ Shield Warrior For Biodiversity, 2018 @Empty Gallery

As I entered their world, I was specially allured by the beauty of this installation made by suspended fishnets and resin called Meditation on Terraforming (a tribute to Marie Tharp), 2018. The spotlight shined on it from above, giving it a glow. Fishnets are things that we do not pay attention to, perhaps like the ocean of Hong Kong, especially with all these construction projects in recent years taking away the home of sea creatures and oceanic organisms. Yet this installation gave an identity, a glorious one, to these fishnets and the ocean, and with that 3D sand printed green turtle statue calmly resting on it, namely Shield Warrior For Biodiversity, 2018, I could only feel the power of the aquatic world and their own order.

Susanne Winterling, Planetary Loop Of Gravitation, 2018 @Empty Gallery

At this point, with the sounds, the darkness, the flags claiming their territory, and this magnificent installation, I had to succumb to the nature of the world and my own vulnerability as a human being who induced damage on this oceanic beauty. Although I do think that this exhibition, as most exhibitions in Empty Gallery do, is more immersive in a sense that visitors would get distracted by the visuals and atmospheric elements of the display, rather than fully understanding the meaning of simply, "dinoflagellate" or the message of protecting biodiversity and oceanic life, this was again, a wonderful experience which I would not forget.

Props to Empty Gallery for making each journey a memorable one. If you are into an immersive underwater experience, this is a good place to visit!



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