Temporal Reflections catalogue

School of Visual Art New York Residency Program 2023

SAMUES LEUNG Temporal Reflections: Capturing the Essence of New York City

Open Studio Wednesday, August 9, 2023

133 W21st ST., NY, NY10011

Temporal Reflections: Capturing the Essence of NYC In my artistic exploration within the SVA residency program, I embark on a creative journey to document my fleeting encounter with the vibrant city of New York. While acknowledging my limited depth of insight and knowledge regarding the intricacies of this metropolis, including pressing societal issues such as homelessness and safety, my focus instead lies in conveying the allure and splendour of New York to those who hold love and hope in their hearts for this place they call home.

I have chosen warm yellow as the main color tone, representing the energy and creativity of New York City. Throughout my artwork, I discovered an abundance of yellow hues scattered across the city, which I have incorporated to create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.

The central theme of this series revolves around the intangible nature of time, symbolizing my one-month sojourn in the city as a transient period of travel—a timeline in itself. As I present this collection of artworks, I aim to guide the audience through an ethereal journey, allowing them to grasp the essence of NYC through the interconnectedness of each painting, forming an intangible timeline that unveils the spirit of the city from one piece to the next. “時間的反思：捕捉紐約的本質” 在SVA駐地計劃中，我進⾏藝術探索，記錄我與紐約這座充滿活⼒的城市的短暫 邂逅。儘管我承認⾃⼰對這座⼤都市的深入洞察和了解有限，包括對無家可歸和 安全等緊迫社會問題的了解，但我的關注點卻在於向那些⼼懷對這個地⽅的熱愛 和希望的⼈們傳達紐約的魅⼒和壯麗。 我選⽤溫暖的⿈⾊作為主要⾊調，⽤以描述紐約市的活⼒和創造⼒，並且我發現 這個城市中有如此之多的⿈⾊元素。這種⾊調貫穿於我的作品中，營造出⼀種熱 情洋溢的氛圍。 這個系列的核⼼主題圍繞著時間的無形性，象徵著我在城市中度過的⼀個⽉旅⾏ 的短暫時期 - ⼀個時間線。當我展示這些藝術作品時，我希望引導觀眾踏上⼀次 超然的旅程，讓他們通過每幅畫作之間的相互聯繫，形成⼀個無形的時間線，從 ⽽領略紐約的精神，從⼀幅作品到另⼀幅作品的傳遞。

Samues Leung, Aug 4, 2023

"Infinite Connection: Empowered by Love and Unity" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 48”x60” This artwork portrays a graffiti street art encounter in New York City, created in response to a community charity event. The event focuses on community connections and supporting those in need, particularly during the pandemic. In the artwork, I predominantly use the color yellow, symbolizing the energy and vibrancy of New York City. Additionally, I incorporated my recently created bronze wire sculpture in the theme of "love and hope" into this painting to convey that this city also thrives on community care and compassion.

"Classic Heritage: The Timeless Aesthetics of New York School Buses" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” Creating this artwork was a particularly enjoyable experience because the school buses in New York have a unique design style that reflects their rich history. These school buses, with their classic and old-school appearance, embody the early 20th-century design of American school transportation. The warm yellow color and distinctive shape of the school bus evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. Despite the availability of newer car models, the majority of school buses in New York still maintain this elegant and timeless style. Their presence on the streets of New York adds an extra touch of charm to this bustling metropolis.

"Collective Care: Support Marginalized Communities" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” Although marginalized communities require social resources and community support, resource allocation is always insufficient. For example, the treatment of homeless people in New York is a challenging problem to solve. However, every day I see these special school buses on the road taking care of disabled students. When they get off the bus and go home, each and every one of them is taken care of individually. They are assisted into the wheelchair-accessible bus, and the bus driver provides patient and professional service, making us feel the love of society.

“Rhythm of City Life” 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” This oil painting depicts the first traffic light in New York City as its subject matter, capturing the busyness and rhythm of urban life. At the center of the composition is a bustling intersection, with the backdrop of towering skyscrapers against the sky. The red, yellow, and green lights of the traffic signals shine brilliantly. This traffic light symbolizes a significant milestone in the transportation history of New York City, being the world's first traffic light with red, yellow, and green lights. Installed and activated on December 10, 1920, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in New York City.

“Juxtapositions of New York” 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” This painting divides into two parts: the upper part realistically depicts the streets of New York, with warm yellow tones that match the theme. It showcases the yellow taxis moving through New York City, reflecting the daily urban life where people strive to make money and enjoy their lives. The lower part features a reflection in the water, revealing another aspect of society, including the struggles of the homeless and the contradictions of the lower class. However, the social issue of wealth disparity is not the focus of this painting. It is a situation that remains unresolved in every city. Therefore, emotionally, what I hope to express is that regardless of wealth or poverty, the pursuit of dreams should be inherent to everyone living in this city.

"Dawn's Embrace: New York City Awakening.”

2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” The oil painting portrays a breath-taking sunrise in the iconic cityscape of New York City.

The canvas is filled with warm, vibrant hues that blend together to capture the magical atmosphere of the early morning. The sky is adorned with streaks of fiery orange, golden yellow, and soft pink, gradually transitioning from the deep purples of dawn. The rising sun casts a radiant glow over the city, casting long shadows and illuminating the towering buildings and landmarks.

I paid meticulous attention to detail, capturing the intricate architectural elements of the city's landmarks. The windows of the buildings shimmer with the first rays of sunlight, while the streets below come alive with the bustling energy of the awakening city. The painting exudes a sense of tranquility and optimism, symbolizing the hope and possibilities that a new day brings.

"Ethereal Escape: Unwinding with the City's Sunset Glow" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” Every city has moments that make people feel tense, anxious, and uneasy, as well as moments that bring sudden tranquility and leisure. The sunset is beautiful everywhere, giving people a sense of infinite beauty. However, the most beautiful moments depend on your state of mind and whether you take the time to enjoy them at the right moment. In this painting, the sunset is depicted over the Union City, New York, with vibrant hues of purple and a touch of pale green. Although today may not be a clear blue sky, the combination of purple hues and the coastline creates a captivating scene. It truly showcases the gentle side of this metropolis.

Neon Reverie: New York City at Dawn 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” One day, as I was passing through the Soho district, I was captivated by the neon light decorations of a high-end fashion store's display window. The phrase it displayed was exceptionally intriguing, prompting me to include it as one of the works in my New York City series. It serves as a testament to the indelible mark this metropolis leaves on its inhabitants.

We have the ability to find inspiration in everything, regardless of the situation or the things you encounter. It emphasizes the importance of creativity and insight, expressing the belief that inspiration and motivation can be found in all aspects of life. Whether it's the little things in everyday life or the beauty of nature's landscapes, this quote encourages us to broaden our perspectives, seek inspiration from everything around us, and transform it into a source of creativity and growth.

“Embracing Unique Beauty" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 20”x24” In a metropolitan city, I often come across individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. It is interesting to note that while there are some who are financially welloff, their focus seems to be primarily on material possessions and wealth. On the other hand, I have also encountered many individuals from humble backgrounds who possess genuine kindness and compassion, despite their limited resources.

“Embracing Unique Beauty": This title implies a focus on embracing and accepting the distinctiveness of each person's beauty, encouraging viewers to appreciate and value individual differences.

About the Artist Samues Leung completed his studies at Macquarie University in Sydney and established the State-of-the-Arts Gallery in 2003. Since 2009, he has been actively involved in the field of visual arts. In 2013, he pursued studies in Western painting at both LaSalle College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in Singapore. In 2016, he obtained a Master's degree in Fine Art (MFA) with distinction from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). During the same year, he served as an Artist in Residence at Art Chiyoda 3331 in Tokyo, Japan. In 2018, he furthered his education by completing a Master's program in Arts and Cultural Enterprises at Central Saint Martin Design College, University of Arts London. Moreover, Samues has undertaken various certified courses, including interior design, modern art creation, modern painting at the Hong Kong Arts School, and Art Management & Curatorship. And he also continue his art-making activities by participating the residency programs in AIR 3331 Tokyo, Japan, Venice and New York City from 2022~23.

Samues has delved into the realm of art-making practices, seeking inspiration from the captivating beauty of Japanese aesthetics and the profound philosophy of Zen. In his exploration, he has embraced the concept of impermanence, infusing it into the creative process within the context of fine art. His artistic journey has led him to employ a diverse range of materials, crafting intricate paintings and sculptures that reflect both the wonders of nature and his personal experiences. Through thorough research, Samues has delved into Zen-inspired notions such as Wabi-sabi and Minimalism. These concepts embody the essence of simplicity, redundancy, and the contemplation of solitude. He skilfully expresses these ideas through various mediums and contexts, employing a multitude of processes and materials to their utmost potential.

Samues' artistic prowess has been showcased in exhibitions held in Tokyo, South Korea, Singapore, Melbourne, and Hong Kong. His works have captivated audiences, offering them a glimpse into his unique interpretation of Japanese aesthetics and Zen philosophy.