The Stallery WCH is proud to present Space Rich, a solo exhibition by Ernest Chang featuring a brand-new collection of 14 works of silkscreen on Perspex and 4 sculptures, the latter of which are extension of previous artworks. The exhibition will be on view from 16 March to 4 June 2023.

In the same vein as 2021’s Bling Dynasty, which explored contemporary (pre-pandemic) global consumerism by bringing together Chinese and Western culture and artistic styles in provocative visual hybrids, Space Rich will again entice viewers by its incorporation of recognizable figures and icons from pop culture and luxury brands in its compositions. Apart from The Happy Donor, which was commissioned by McCafé Hong Kong as part of the well-received group exhibition SubXture at the K11 Art Mall earlier in 2022, all works featured in Space Rich are created in 2021-2023 and have not been exhibited before.

This time, “earthly” icons are juxtaposed against the barren landscape of Mars, in a sort of visual contemplation of what deep space habitation would look like, and whether an “escape” from reality — into outer space or to virtual reality — is truly possible for those of us inhabiting a world dominated by consumerist urges and social media feeds. The Stallery invites viewers on a foray into Chang’s imaginative visions of Mars and its futuristic inhabitants’ footprint on it, which, as always in his practice, are at once provocative and playfully enticing.

“In recent years, the effects of extreme wealth seem to catapult the mega-rich into outer space one after another in the name of space exploration. Is this the ultimate metaphor of how physically and mentally detached the ultra-wealthy are from the lives and realities of the majority of this planet? Are we truly exploring this new frontier, or are we actually exploiting this new frontier and condemning other worlds to our problems here on earth?”

Gallery address: G/F, 82A Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai