Beyond OBJECTS: A contemporary take on still life

For centuries, still life paintings have been celebrated for their ability to capture the essence of inanimate objects- flowers, fruit, vessels-rendered with meticulous attention to detail. Still life is an essential approach for visual artists to explore and enhance their artistic fundamentals. The diligent ability to mimic real colors, light, and composition of objects required provides a foundation for further exploration.

In the 21st century, the concept of “still life” has evolved far beyond the confines of the traditional canvas. Originally aesthetic-oriented, the contemporary reimagining of still-life proved otherwise. Artists have reimagined the innumerable possibilities of still-life that go beyond the boundaries of traditional still life by the exploration of materiality that create assemblages that reinterpret the still life genre.

In this exhibition, it’s more than meets the eye, we’ll begin to see how these inanimate objects crawled out of two-dimensional surface, to engage with us viewers in a three-dimensional form and an interactive manner to immerse ourselves with. The objects, once confined to the boundaries of a painted surface, now occupy real space, creating a dialogue between the material and the ephemeral. By exploring new mediums and approaches, the exhibition reveals the enduring relevance of still life as a genre capable of adaptation and innovation. It encourages viewers to reconsider what constitutes a still life and challenges the conventional hierarchy of materials and methods in art. In doing so, this exhibition reaffirms that the essence of still life is not bound to the canvas, but rather, it is an ever-evolving dialogue between objects, space, and the viewer.