Harbinger

Synopsis:

Harbinger is a new body of work by Shian (@shiaaaan), comprising both illustrations and handsewn textiles that draw from the symbolic tradition of Chinese folk art.

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<div>At the heart of the exhibition is an instinctive exploration of animal symbolism and the reshaping of cultural memory—how meanings are assigned, inherited, and transformed over time. The burden of turbulence is placed onto these creatures, letting them carry doubt, rage, and the violent desire for change. There is no fixed logic here—the kites merely suggest flight and the tigers serve soup here.</div>

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<div>Harbinger inhabits the space between tradition and instinct, root and release. It doesn’t offer resolution, but rests in the unease of transformation—a point of transition where something is ending, and something else is just beginning to take shape.</div>

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<div>There will be risograph prints of certain works for sale.</div>

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<div>ABOUT THE ARTIST:</div>

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<div>Shian is an independent illustrator based in Singapore. She is mostly known for her lush and intricate gig and movie posters. However, due to her ongoing identity crisis and an unending pool of influences and interests ranging from embroidered tapestries to deep sea biology, her work is an eclectic and flexible mix of styles. She has produced artwork for Samsung, Metallica, Dave Matthews Band and Weird Al Yankovic.. Her work has received awards from 3x3, Creative Quarterly and has been included in Spectrum Fantastic Art 26.</div>

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<div>ABOUT CHAOS GALLERY:</div>

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<div>CHAOS Gallery (2022) is a space under the Knuckles & Notch banner. It presents a plethora of unique and unorthodox realities, worlds, stories, and discourses that explore the human spirit through exhibitions and artist talks. At CHAOS, we aim to bring creatives together from all fields and to push the boundaries of art-making through experimentation and collaborations. We believe that the chaos within us embodies creative energy waiting to be unleashed. Harnessing this energy allows us to channel it into artistic expressions that bring forth works imbued with the essence of the human soul onto the exhibition stage (the Gallery).</div>

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<div>ABOUT KNUCKLES & NOTCH:</div>

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<div>Established in 2013, Knuckles & Notch is a creative studio and Risograph press known for their manically colourful and often bizarre aesthetic. Their love for art-making is rooted in the inimitable charm of the analogue medium. They believe in the unique quality of the hands-on process, where idiosyncrasies foster greater relatability between creators and their audience. In that spirit, they persist in creating art through analogue means while continually exploring innovative ways to harmonise traditional mediums with our ever-changing contemporary landscape.</div>