Anton Poon
Vertebral, 2023
Painted Corten Steel
73 x 18 x 57 cm
Anton Poon is an international contemporary abstract sculptor who seeks to explore concepts of cultural exchange and integration; a subject that an individual who has lived equally in two different...
Anton Poon is an international contemporary abstract sculptor who seeks to explore concepts of cultural exchange and integration; a subject that an individual who has lived equally in two different cultures and countries strongly resonates with him. He draws his creative ideas from his experiences navigating through these cultures and taking visual inspiration from urban structures within the urban environments, such as bridges and tunnels, which embody the nature of passage and transition.
Anton aims to reconnect and rebuild his sense of identity and belonging with Hong Kong, a place where he was born yet feels distant. Anton achieves this through the use of three foundational elements, evolving materials such as Corten Steel, hollow repeating geometric forms and high contrasting colours.
Similar to the experience in which Anton has evolved and adapted to the transition between different cultures, his sculpture exploits the weathering of Corten steel, a material that rusts and changes in tandem with the environment and weather, making the sculpture unique to its home. The characteristics of this material act as a barometer to the location the sculpture is situated in, making the work truly blend with the place.
Anton also uses highly contrasting colours, something his earlier works expressly avoided, to describe the bold and confrontative feelings of adapting to his current surroundings and Hong Kong as a place. The colours draw references to those found in the urban landscapes and the maps that help guide us through them, opening a dialogue about journeys soon to come and our perceptions of place.
In conclusion, through the use of intricate geometric shapes, experimenting with candy-like vivid colours, and the material physicality of his work. Anton's sculptures attempt to map out the complex cultural identities of a new generation of Hong Kong while encouraging the public to navigate and interact with each piece and drawing a reflective comparison to the navigation of space and environment in the pursuit of understanding.
Anton aims to reconnect and rebuild his sense of identity and belonging with Hong Kong, a place where he was born yet feels distant. Anton achieves this through the use of three foundational elements, evolving materials such as Corten Steel, hollow repeating geometric forms and high contrasting colours.
Similar to the experience in which Anton has evolved and adapted to the transition between different cultures, his sculpture exploits the weathering of Corten steel, a material that rusts and changes in tandem with the environment and weather, making the sculpture unique to its home. The characteristics of this material act as a barometer to the location the sculpture is situated in, making the work truly blend with the place.
Anton also uses highly contrasting colours, something his earlier works expressly avoided, to describe the bold and confrontative feelings of adapting to his current surroundings and Hong Kong as a place. The colours draw references to those found in the urban landscapes and the maps that help guide us through them, opening a dialogue about journeys soon to come and our perceptions of place.
In conclusion, through the use of intricate geometric shapes, experimenting with candy-like vivid colours, and the material physicality of his work. Anton's sculptures attempt to map out the complex cultural identities of a new generation of Hong Kong while encouraging the public to navigate and interact with each piece and drawing a reflective comparison to the navigation of space and environment in the pursuit of understanding.
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