Art Review: Jewelle Yeung

Jewelle Yeung was an exhibit from the artist of the same name. The show is held at the 856 G Gallery and runs from September 12 to October 13, 2014.

The artist is of Chinese and Filipino descent and spent her formative years split between Hong Kong and the Philippines.  After completing her under graduate in Fashion design and Technology at the University of the Arts, and obtaining a Masters Degree at the City and Guilds of London Art School for Fine Art, she spent the early part of her career working in London as a designer for Hussein Chalayan and Puma Black Label.

After fifteen years of living abroad, Jewelle now works and lives in Hong Kong and the Philippines. She continues to paint while exploring other forms of practice including set design, branding, illustration, and architecture.

The colorful and big works of Jewelle Yeung triggers you to imagine that you are living in the clouds. If you want to be religious about it then it gives a feeling of flying in heaven. I am not sure if the artist is religious but that is indeed the effect of her works.

The works are all flying or floating. The works are not psychedelic, it’s like you’re in outer space or with the clouds flying with the creatures up there but not someone who is on drugs. You are just floating on your natural high.

Then if you don’t imagine heaven and you are simply on earth, the floating effect of the artworks still forces you to look up even if realistically you are looking down or at the artworks.

Artworks like, “Free Run” and Legend of Re’em remind me of the horses of Poseidon, thought they do look like they are floating maybe they are also running across the sea. The brushstrokes can also be understood as waves.

Again, we return to the religion angle, the legend of Re’em is mentioned in the Hebrew bible nine times. Does it mean that the artist is religious or she just wants to paint horses and unicorns?

“Summit”, though it is a mountain reminds me of, “The Great Wave of Kanagawa” by Katsuhika Hokusai. The formation of the mountain and the colors all point to that. The work is like the mountain version without the people on the boats. This artwork with, “Collision and “Melee’, also highlights the Asian influence of the artist.

Overall, the works were impressive. The colors, the size, the style, her combination of Western and Asian influences are just the right mixture. It was an exhibit that showcased something different but also reminded you of the usual things.

For more information on the exhibit, you can contact +6332-344-3039 and 0917 – 626- 0203 and look for Pia, Ena or Carmela.

856 G Gallery is located at Business Walls, 856 As Fortuna St. Banilad, Mandaue City, 6014, Cebu, Philippines.

About the author: N.M. CABANGBANG graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting at University of the Philippines Cebu. He is now currently teaching grade 6 – 10 Art at B.R.I.G.H.T.  Academy.