Nine amateur art enthusiasts are giving new life to daily items through decoupage, an art technique with some similarities to collage, in a new exhibition titled “Art Accompanying Life” at the 10 Fantasia gallery.
Having kicked off on Saturday, the exhibition is on until January 30 and can be found on the second floor of the gallery.
The technique, as explained by AI chatbot Poe, involves decorating an object by gluing colourful paper cutouts onto its surface and then sealing it with a finish, like varnish, turning ordinary items into art through layered images and designs.
The resulting works at the exhibition sees tote bags, stools, coat hangers, clocks and a variety of boxes decorated with reorganised paper materials, which gallerygoers will see across the exhibition’s two rooms.
“The exhibition aims to breathe new life into old objects, embodying the creative spirit of ‘turning waste into treasure’”, noted a statement by the organisers.
In total, members of the public can view 98 works on display, each work crafted by the artists under the guidance of their teacher. The statement said that among the works are those that reflect on the beauty of East-West cultural fusion and others that evoke nostalgic memories.
The statement added that the organisers hope to invite gallerygoers to “rethink the relationship between people, objects, and the environment, making art not just an observation, but something to be used and felt”. This is hoped to encourage people to value resource regeneration and think collectively about sustainable living options, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the statement also highlighted the dedication of the participating enthusiasts, noting that despite juggling busy lives and responsibilities, each remains committed to their passion.
The free-admission gallery is located on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋堂斜巷). One may view the works from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Mondays.
Photos taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
