Vincent Fantauzzo, The Kiss, 2011, Oil on linen, 80 x 170 cm
[19 Sep 2011, Hong Kong] — Australian based artist Vincent Fantauzzo is collaborating with film director Barney Howells to create a new set of works. The collection, comprising fifteen major pieces, will be showcased at a unique exhibition that merges painting with narrative story-telling creating a fully experiential installation.
Vincent’s long standing interest in Hong Kong cinema introduced him to the book and film “The World of Suzie Wong.” The original story is of an artist settling in the red light district of Wanchai in Hong Kong. He finds himself staying in a hotel that’s primary trade is as a bar where sailors come to meet ‘working girls’. The artist, Robert, falls in love with one of the girls, Suzie, and the film revolves around their relationship.
Realising the story had a resonance with audiences today, 50 years after production, Vincent had the idea to reference the themes in a series of paintings.
The pair travelled to Hong Kong in search of the modern interpretation of the narrative.
The movie was a success in its day, connecting with a previous generation. Viewed in the present, it has dated in its telling of fairly controversial subjects. The worlds of art, prostitution and the white establishment in colonial Hong Kong seem somewhat sanitised by the Hollywood production.
Vincent and Barney realised the great potential in re-telling the story, through the art works, set in modern day Hong Kong.
The idea for the exhibition is to present the collection, which will represent key moments in their reworked narrative, alongside illustrative storyboards that flesh out the story. When taken as a whole, the exhibition will allow the audience to experience the narrative as if they were viewing the movie itself. The works will have the scale and resonance of cinematic pieces, while the storyboards evoke the pre-production process, and have the feel of a graphic novel.
Further to this the pair are working with composers on a score to compliment the exhibition, and with a highly regarded production designer to make the gallery space fully experiential.
Suzie Wong: The Exhibition will be an exhibition showcasing Vincent’s celebrated technical style and eye for the cinematic aesthetic. Barney has been working to craft the narrative and has brought his film making background to shape the preparation. There have been castings and location scouts to create the pool of references that the paintings will draw from. In many ways the pair have been following the workflow of movie making in the creation of the works.
Suzie Wong: The Exhibition will debut at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery in Hong Kong in late September. Vincent & Barney will be in Hong Kong from 2nd Oct to 9th Oct, 2011.
For press enquiry or to schedule interview, please contact Celine Ho on (852) 28100065 or email: celine@10chancerylanegallery.com
About Vincent Fantauzzo
Born in England in 1977, Fantauzzo came to Australia as a child and has a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) and a Master of Fine Art from RMIT University, Melbourne. He won the 2003 Tolarno RMIT Partnership Prize and was a finalist in the 2007 Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, DLAP, Whyalla Art Award and Duke Gold Coast Art Prize. He is the recipient of the Archibald People’s Choice Award in 2008 and 2009 and is the winner of the 2011 Archibald Packing Room Prize with a portrait of celebrity chef Matt Moran in April, the 2011 Doug Moran Portrait Prize for his painting of Baz Luhrmann in May 2011 and the Metro Gallery National Art Award in July 2011.
Using a medium of oil on canvas, Vincent paints figures in the pictorial space and often draws upon techniques used in other art mediums such as photography and film to create narratives. Through the use of contrasting elements of light and dark, shadows and colours, he creates depth in his images and heightens the realism and theatrical effect. His painting of Heath Ledger before he died has become a iconic symbol of the actor.
About Barney Howells
Barney Howells is a UK born director, living in Melbourne, Australia.
Barney spent his formative years working in London’s advertising community alongside some of the world’s best directors. Within a short time he was directing his own work and signed to Partizan films, one of the most internationally prestigious production companies. A finalist at Cannes and Kinsale Shark Awards for the best new director, Barney Howells’ film for Xbox was a finalist at the British Television and Advertising Craft Awards and won Creativity Online’s Platinum Award. He has made films for brands including Playstation, Nokia, Ford and VO5.
Moving to Australia in 2009, Barney formed the production company gods&monsters to work in all disciplines of film. His partnership with artist Vincent Fantauzzo is one of many collaborations that balance Barney’s career as a commercial film director with his passion for long-form.
About 10 Chancery Lane Gallery
Founded in 2001 by Katie de Tilly 10 Chancery Lane Gallery is a driving force in contemporary arts’ culture in Hong Kong and is one of Asia’s leading contemporary art galleries. Working from a broad range of artists of culturally diverse backgrounds the gallery is particularly interested in emerging movements in Asian art. Asia has seen a blossoming of its art over the last decade and 10 Chancery Lane Gallery is committed to play a major role in documenting the development of art within the Asia pacific region by holding more survey exhibitions by country or theme of both emerging and mid-career artists and publishing books that bring together the individual historical contexts with the arts development within Asia.
