Sunday was a very special day for me and the very beautiful and very talented South African artist Bronwen Shelwell.

(Hope this blog isn’t a conflict of interest, but I think the story is worth sharing! The subsequent proper article might be, but that’s okay)

You see, over at the Asia Society in Hong Kong there happened to be an exhibition of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s works, “Life is Only One.” To complement the show, the society also hosted an art competition.

 

So Bronwen decided to produce one of her signature glass nests, one which incorporates Nara’s themes of childish characters hinting at darkness and danger. She submitted the pitch, and we were pleasantly surprised when they quickly emailed back that she was a finalist and needed to come to HK to drop off the piece (Well, I wasn’t surprised; I was sure she would do well).

When they emailed soon after to say she was selected as champion of the open division, it was very exciting!

Sunday came and I was honored to be Ms. Shelwell’s “plus one” for the awards ceremony. We made a day of entertaining Hong Kong and enjoying the space.

 

Then the ceremony began. It was rather quick, going through the child and youth divisions with various runners up. As champion, Bronwen was the last. There was even a ribbon cutting.

 

Afterwards, we were free to go up to the gallery to observe all the interesting works. It was amazing how people can take inspiration from Nara and have such original takes. Glad to see a lot of creativity is happening in Hong Kong today, especially among young people.

Bronwen was able to show off her nest in person, entitled “Home,” and also took interviews.

Artist’s Statement:

“Inspiration for this artwork came from my own interpretation of Nara’s process. I wanted to find a way to express a similar innocence, as he does with his childlike imagery, with a subconscious and violent edge. A mixture between anticipation and emptiness. I took a familiar form in the nest; a symbol for home, safety and innocence, but constructed it out of the fragile, delicate, but also dangerous material of glass.

In line with Nara’s process, the base of the glass nest was made out of found materials. A broken glass car window lying on the side of the road. I collected the shards and then made a mould, which I melted the glass into. On this base I assembled glass rods, each one worked into a natural shape over a gas flame. I then built the nest piece by piece, as a child or bird would do.

The final work I left empty. I wanted there to be something read in its vacancy. Something familiar, as with Nara’s imagery, but unnerving at the same time. Taking an object always associated with warmth and safety, but displaying it with a palpable loss.

An intimate, vulnerable trap.”

 

Lastly, I would like to conclude this post on a note of showcasing some other favored pieces at the exhibition:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

One more final note, some further closeups of the piece for all you true art aficionados out there…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

More information can be found at the Asia Society’s website, and the exhibition will continue until August 16th.