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In ‘A Collective Glow,’ Gigi Chen’s Surreal Acrylic Paintings Channel Togetherness and Safety

19 Jun, 2024

This post was originally published on Colossal

“From Above” (2023), acrylic on wood, 15 x 11 ⅛ inches. All images © Gigi Chen, shared with permission

Bluebirds are often associated with happiness, love, hope, and positivity, making them an apt subject for New York-based artist Gigi Chen (previously), whose surreal paintings of wildlife merge the animal kingdom with symbols of home, comfort, and connection.

In her forthcoming solo exhibition A Collective Glow at Beinart Gallery in Melbourne, Chen continues to explore emotional ties between animals and the environment. In “A Sparrow’s Song,” a bird’s body radiates with neon pink hearts, while in “A Collective Glow,” half a dozen house sparrows stitch up a gleaming cavity in a pigeon’s breast.

Chen’s newest series considers the relationship between nature and mythology along with autobiographical narratives of the complexities of family, safety, love, and a sense of belonging. Her works incorporate otherworldly, dream-like imagery that draws on childhood associations with movies and television featuring magical animals. “The paintings prominently feature creatures—usually birds—acting as conduits for Chen and her own stories,” says a gallery statement.

A Collective Glow runs from June 23 to July 17. Find more on Chen’s website and Instagram.

 

an acrylic painting of six house sparrows with pink thread in their beaks, stitching up a glowing red cavity in a pigeon's breast

“A Collective Glow” (2022), acrylic on wood, 22.5 x 32 inches

a vertical acrylic painting of a deceased sparrow with a series of neon pink hearts emanating from its chest

“A Sparrow’s Song” (2024), acrylic on wood, 12 x 18 inches

an egret at the shoreline among some reeds, glowing in the light of some candles on rocks, one of which is shaped like a house

“Burn So Bright” (2024), acrylic on wood, 18 x 24 inches

an acrylic painting of a young deer eating grass, looking at the viewer, with a pink crystal on its forehead

“At a Glance” (2024), acrylic on wood, 11 x 14 inches

an acrylic painting of a white horse walking on the banks of a river, with glowing yellow spots in the background like fireflies

“Murmurations” (2024), acrylic on wood, 21.5 x 14.5 inches

an acrylic painting on a wood panel of a bluebird with a star on its breast, perched in a painted frame, which has been cut and shaped around the edges

“From Within” (2024), acrylic on wood, 15 x 11 ⅛ inches

an acrylic painting of a white speckled horse eating on the shore of some water, with dense foliage behind it

“Midnight” (2024), acrylic on wood, 20 x 24 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In ‘A Collective Glow,’ Gigi Chen’s Surreal Acrylic Paintings Channel Togetherness and Safety appeared first on Colossal.

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Government consulting on sustainable investment labelling

Government consulting on sustainable investment labelling

The Australian Government is starting consultation on sustainable investment product labelling, which is designed to give investors more confidence to put more capital to work in sustainable products.

The federal government said the release of this paper is a key step in implementing its Sustainable Finance Roadmap — designed to help mobilise the capital required for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower, modernising the financial markets and maximising the economic opportunities from net zero.

This consultation paper seeks views from investors, companies and the broader community on a framework for sustainable investment product labels.

These labels are designed to help investors and consumers identify, compare and make informed decisions about sustainable investment products to understand what ‘sustainable’, ‘green’ or similar words mean when they’re applied to financial products.

The government said a more robust and clear product-labelling framework will help investors and consumers invest in sustainable products with confidence and help tackle greenwashing.

This phase of consultation will run from 18 July to 29 August and help the government refine its design principles for the framework.

The consultation paper is available on the Treasury consultation hub.

Image credit: iStock.com/wenich-mit

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