Sometimes the decision is not where you go, but how long you stay.

For artist Su Xiaobai, it was Düsseldorf.

Su reasoned that a one-year program would be too short to master the language and art, while four years allowed ample time to learn German and refine his painting skills ...for a future career. Recalling his extraordinary journey: a seven-day and seven-night train ride across the vast Russian plains, back when it was still the Soviet Union.

Discover more on this week’s episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, now available on YouTube and Spotify.

With the age of AI fully upon us, many of us have been turning to nostalgia and history to find not only comfort in the familiar, but also what it means to be human. And contemporary artists are no exception, with many explicitly drawing inspiration from the art historical canon. But what does that... mean for the art that you and I might see in galleries today?

On one hand, some might call the constant references to art history and recycling iconic motifs uninspired. Lazy, even. Getting stuck in ideas of old might deter artists from looking ahead, or discovering their own creative voice. In some cases, those insisting on drawing on history might also find themselves guilty of using precepts from a dominant culture to understand a vastly different one, without nuance.

On the other hand, historically charged art could prove a salve to our dwindling attention spans. It demands that we closely examine what we are looking at, and try to understand the past from how it’s represented – offering a starkly different way of engaging with media in a world where endless scrolls on apps remain the norm.

For further reading on this topic, I thoroughly enjoyed this @artnet essay by J. Cabelle Ahn @cabellerina, linked here: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ultra-contemporary-old-masters-2744796

#PearlLam #ContemporaryArt #AI #VisualArt

The decision was immediate.

For Su Xiaobai, encountering lacquer changed the direction of his work. While his mentors recognised this as his authentic path, they also pointed to the role his earlier paintings could still play in building a life.

Instantly captivated by its unique ...charm, he turned away from oil painting, only to receive overwhelming praise from his Düsseldorf mentors. They reminded him that while lacquer is his authentic artistic path, his earlier works still hold practical value for building a steady life and family.

Continue the conversation on The Pearl Lam Podcas

I support all forms of artistic expression and recognise the role of culture in fostering peace and understanding.

I am aware that an employee of Pearl Lam Projects has made political comments about an exhibition in a personal capacity. Whilst I support anyone’s right to express their ...views. These comments do not reflect views of my own.

Art never exists in a vacuum, and I’m always enthralled to see different mediums converge. One of the most commonplace examples of this is the humble album cover, which I’ve been thinking about a lot more since the the Grammys announced ‘Best Album Cover’ as a new category earlier this ...year.

Whether you’re saving new tracks to your Spotify library or have hunted down a physical CD of your favourite album, album cover art is what catches your eye first. Crucially, it sets the tone to how you might experience music and understand the album’s core ideas.

Here, individual creative choices – ranging from colour palette, subject imagery, and even typography – culminate in works of art in their own right. Similar to the traditional ‘rules’ of art-making, all creative choices need to be intentional to evoke a specific mood for the listener. This might look like figurative photography of the artist serving as the subject for an introspective, autobiographical album, while other covers might rely on the symbolism of specific colours to purposefully evoke emotions.

What do you think? Have you ever been in awe of a piece of album art, the same way you might view something in a museum of a gallery?

For further reading on the topic, I really enjoyed this piece by Rachel Cabitt @rachelcabitt (who also writes about the history of art of album covers) for It’s Nice That @itsnicethat: https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/who-shouldve-won-the-best-album-cover-grammy-graphic-design-art-280126

#PearlLam #VisualArt #Music

Artwork Credit: Columbia Records, AWAL, Rimas Entertainment, Lava and Republic Records

On The Pearl Lam Podcast this week, I’m joined by artist Su Xiaobai who shares his thoughts on artistic learning, arguing that true painting cannot be simply taught or learned by rote.

Emphasising that art is a dialogue, not instruction: you must see for yourself, experience it ...firsthand, and seek understanding on your own.
Reflecting on his own journey, Su notes that growth in art happens subtly and slowly; there are no obvious changes from one day to the next, or even one year to the next. Yet true transformation unfolds gradually in this quiet, unhurried process, often so imperceptibly that we barely notice our own evolution.

Catch the full episode now, only on The Pearl Lam podcast.

In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, recorded in Mandarin, I speak with artist Su Xiaobai.

We discuss his practice and its focus on material, process and repetition, with particular attention to his lacquer works. Reflecting on his development, Su considers the balance between control... and chance, and how time, discipline and surface come to shape each work.

The conversation also touches on the philosophical frameworks that inform his approach, including the influence of Eastern thought and the relationship between tradition and contemporary expression.

Thank you, Su Xiaobai, for a thoughtful and considered conversation.
Watch or listen now on YouTube and Spotify, only on the Pearl Lam Podcast.

There is a shift in how Asian galleries are positioning themselves.

Rather than following established narratives, there is a growing confidence in foregrounding their own histories and perspectives. This creates a two-way cultural exchange, and encourages new artistic discourse.

...Art Basel Hong Kong Director Angelle Siyang-Le dives into this topic on The Pearl Lam Podcast, now available on YouTube and Spotify.

#PearlLam #ArtBaselHongKong #ContemporaryArt #ArtWorld #AsianArt

The Hong Kong artist scene was once very quiet.

You didn’t hear much from it. There wasn’t the same level of visibility as there is now.

But in recent years, that has changed. Artists such as Samson Young, Trevor Yeung, and Leelee Chan are now gaining international exposure, ...through art fairs and museum exhibitions.

More on The Pearl Lam Podcast, now available on YouTube and Spotify.

Following Art Basel Hong Kong (@artbasel) I presented Chinese artist Qiu Anxiong’s (@qiuanxiong) solo exhibition Bearing The Unseen at 52 Wyndham Street.

Away from the pace of the fair, it was an opportunity to spend more time with Qiu’s work, which spans ink painting, animation, and ...installation, and to appreciate his practice in a different physical space. Thank you to everyone who visited over the past week.

#QiuAnxiong #PearlLam #ArtBaselHongKong #ContemporaryArt #ArtFair

Each year, Art Basel Hong Kong (@artbasel) brings a moment to pause and gather with like-minded individuals.

It was a pleasure to host friends, collectors, artists, and collaborators at The Peninsula Hong Kong (@peninsulahongkong) for our annual dinner. It was a spirited evening of ...conversation, reflection, and reconnection — definitely one of the highlights of my week.

#PearlLam #ArtBaselHongKong #Gala #ArtFair #ABHK

Each year, Art Basel Hong Kong (@artbasel) brings a moment to pause and gather with like-minded individuals.

It was a pleasure to host friends, collectors, artists, and collaborators at The Peninsula Hong Kong (@peninsulahongkong) for our annual dinner. It was a spirited evening of ...conversation, reflection, and reconnection — definitely one of the highlights of my week.

#PearlLam #ArtBaselHongKong #Gala #ArtFair #ABHK

With the frenzy of @artbasel Hong Kong behind us, I always enjoy taking a moment to reflect on all the interesting conversations I had. This year was especially buzzy, and I always have a whale of a time speaking to friends old and new.

Thank you to Zabrina Lo (@zabrinalo) from Tatler ...Hong Kong (@tatlerhongkong) for joining me to share more about her thoughts on this year’s iteration, and what makes this fair so special.

If you attended, let me know what you thought about the fair below.

#PearlLam #ContemporaryArt #ArtFair #ArtBasel #ArtBaselHongKong

Stability is not something we have seen in the art world for some time.
As Art Basel Hong Kong Director Angelle Siyang-Le notes, what we are witnessing is not decline, but a period of restructuring.

Roles within the art ecosystem are shifting, even if it is not always immediately ...visible. At the same time, new galleries continue to open, and this is a positive that’ often overlooked.

Catch this week’s episode of the Pearl Lam podcast on YouTube.

#PearlLam #ArtWorld #ArtMarket #ContemporaryArt #ArtGalleries

There is a shift in how Asian galleries are positioning themselves. Rather than following established narratives, there is a growing confidence in foregrounding their own histories and perspectives.

This creates a two-way cultural exchange, and encourages new artistic discourse.

... Art Basel Hong Kong Director Angelle Siyang-Le dives into this topic on The Pearl Lam Podcast, now available on YouTube and Spotify.

#PearlLam #ArtBaselHongKong #ContemporaryArt #ArtWorld #AsianArt