Leung Chi Wo (b. 1968, Hong Kong) and Sara Wong (b. 1968, Hong Kong) explore the anonymity of history by contemplating figures in the background of found snapshots. In their Museum of the Lost series, Leung and Wong reenact the poses and attire of these unidentified, unaware “minor characters,” producing life-sized photographic prints and crafting accompanying texts that imagine their experiences and personalities. The artists’ exhibition focuses on works made from the photo albums of families in Nagoya, Japan, in which Leung and Wong challenge historical grand narratives and shed light on the poetics of photography. Undeterred by the impossibility of truly knowing these people from the fleeting past, the artists’ romantic encounter with history may inform how we see our role in the world and years to come.
Museum of the Lost (Strangers at Home) is organized by SCAD Museum of Art chief curator Daniel S. Palmer.
About the artists
Leung and Wong have collaborated occasionally for exhibitions since 1992. This teamwork began to consolidate when they had their residency in 1999 and 2000 in New York where they premiered City Cookie their most exhibited project by now.
Both born in Hong Kong in 1968, Leung and Wong graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and co-founded Para Site in Hong Kong in 1996.
Having earned his MFA in 1997 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Leung was granted a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council to reside in New York from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, he exhibited in Hong Kong’s first participation in the Venice Biennale. Leung’s recent exhibitions include EVA International—Ireland’s Biennial at Limerick (2016), Thailand Biennale (2018), solo exhibitions at Rokeby, London (2016) and Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong (2018). Leung is Associate Professor in the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong.
Wong obtained her master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Hong Kong in 1997. Awards received include Ramon Woon Art Creative Prize by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1992) and Most Promising Artist Award of Philippe Charriol Foundation Art Competition, Hong Kong (1994). She participated in artist-in-residence programmes held in various places like P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Ecole Cantonale d’Art du Valais in Switzerland. Wong is also a practicing landscape architect with large-scale projects in China. Currently she teaches landscape design in the Hong Kong Design Institute.
Leung Chi Wo + Sara Wong: Museum of the Lost (Strangers at Home)
Until July 24, 2023
SCAD Museum of Art
601 Turner Blvd.
Savannah, GA
www.scadmoa.org
