“Interludes”
6 Nov, 2021 to 8 Jan, 2022
Images courtesy of Zan Zeller
Press release
HOUSTON (OCTOBER 13, 2021) — Foto Relevance is pleased to present Interludes, the gallery's debut solo exhibition of works by Xuan-Hui Ng. The Singaporean, Tokyo- based artist's serendipitous landscapes capture transient moments of beauty within the vastness of nature. Propelled to begin creating art as a way to seek solace from loss, the artistʼs desire to preserve this fleeting beauty mirrors a desire to preserve precious memories in the same manner. These quiet scenes offer a shared sense of tranquility to the viewer, an invitation to be part of a deeply personal moment, and a universal appreciation of the world we live in. Interludes will be on view at Foto Relevance from November 6th, 2021 through January 8th, 2022.
The images in Interludes are captured in the beautiful Japanese countryside where the artist retreats to seek refuge from the chaos of the world and inspiration from the bounty of nature. Ng photographs ephemeral moments — the changing seasons, the rolling fog, the swirls of cherry blossoms in water, known as hana ikada, as they fall after their short bloom. Some of the phenomena she captures are becoming increasingly rare as the earth's climate warms, making the moments that much more precious. One such phenomenon which appears in her work is diamond dust, tiny ice crystals suspended above the earth in a low hanging cloud which sparkle in the sunlight. Another is yuki-mushi, or snow bugs — known as the harbingers of snow, the fluffy white bugs resemble a light dusting of snow themselves, and the first snow of the season often falls one to two weeks after they are sighted. It is almost fantastical to imagine that these are anything but dreamscapes, and yet they are entirely unaltered images.
Ng's creative process is tied intimately to music, and the visual compositions echo a symphony of nature. Her images are inspired by the music of Italian composer Luca Longobardi, whose work investigates the relationship between sound and spectacle. Often using his music as a means to focus her mind while photographing, the deep connection between Ng's visual language and Longobardi's work is apparent in the emotional response carefully rendered by each.
Xuan-Hui Ng's work seeks to find a sense of personal perspective in the vastness of nature, to reach acceptance through release, to look outward as a means of looking inward. Her images transcend cultural experience, facilitating unique emotional encounters through the eyes of each viewer.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Xuan-Hui Ng is a photographic artist from Singapore who currently resides in Tokyo. Rooted in her own experiences of turning to the landscape as a source of comfort and respite, Ngʼs images reflect a thoughtful kinship with the natural world. She has been selected for juried exhibitions at the Griffin Museum, Davis Orton Gallery, Southeast Center for Photography, and A Smith Gallery, in addition to placing at the 16th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers in 2021. Publications of her work have been featured in include What Will You Remember? and fotoMAGAZIN.
ABOUT FOTO RELEVANCE:
Since 2016, Foto Relevance cofounders Geoffrey C. Koslov and Bryn Larsen have focused on the exhibition and acquisition of museum-quality, contemporary fine art photography and photography-based work. Foto Relevance is dedicated to providing a platform for an innovative selection of American and international photographic artists pushing the boundaries of photography. In addition to promoting the work of artists, Foto Relevance provides guidance, educating individual collectors and corporations in the acquisition and sale of art. Foto Relevance is a member of the Houston Art Gallery Association (HAGA). The gallery is located in the historic Museum District in Houston, Texas in close proximity to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Menil Collection, and the Houston Center for Photography.
Foto Relevance is currently open for walk-in hours Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 am - 5 pm, or by appointment. This is subject to change as we stay current with local COVID- related advisories. Please call (713) 505-1499 or email info@fotorelevance.com for press and other inquiries.