SENS Gallery is pleased to announce Guardians of the Temple, the first solo exhibition of British painter Liam Alvy in Hong Kong. ‘Guardians of the Temple’ is a new series of 18 paintings, featuring a recurring theme of dragons throughout the series. The dragons are painted with Liam’s signature subjects such as white tigers, black panthers, and spotted dogs.

Through bold and striking paintings which sometimes appear playful and in other compositions of mid-battle, an underlying theme of conquering your demons, or protecting what is yours, runs within the scenes of the ‘Guardians of the Temple.’ Creatures embody a dominating presence, their character defined as protective and striking in nature, yet energetic in manner. They encourage the viewer to encapsulate a sense of power and authority whilst being offered protection. Contrasting the resilience and protective demeanour of these creatures are cranes, symbols of beauty and eternal youth, providing feelings of calm and solitude amidst the chaos. The show is an allegory to overcoming difficulties in the face of adversity and to nature as a celebration of life, where nature is the fundamental ‘temple’ of the animal kingdom, existing as ‘guardians’ to protect themselves from danger.

Repetitive imagery and the combination of surrealism and folk art constitute Alvy’s creative style. Withdrawing from the traditional conventions of surrealism, Alvy applies it in a manner to create a balance between reality and imagination: the audience is explicitly familiar with the creatures depicted, yet they are portrayed in such an expressive manner that they appear more fantastical than reality. Alvy expands his expertise as a tattoo artist to the canvas, demonstrating his skills through sharp brushstrokes and contrasting colours. None of his works will evoke an identical image or feeling to them, he is constantly attempting to evolve his style and create something new.

Gallery address: 1908 Landmark South, 39 Yip Kan Street, Wong Chuk Hang