LIGHTNESS OF BEING

Lightness Of Being, Hong Kong Art Basel | Aigana Gali

Lightness of Being takes its title from the 1984 novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, which presents the philosophical discussion of lightness versus heaviness. Kundera contrasts the Greek Philosopher Parmenides’ understanding of life as light, with Nietzsche’s philosophy of eternal return (the idea that the universe and its events have already occurred and will recur ad infinitum, causing life to feel heavy).

Rendering biomorphic shapes and symbols with a luminous application of colour, Aigana Gali (b. 1980, Kazakhstan) fluidly reconciles the opposing properties of light and shadow on her celestial canvases. Her work embodies the mythical quality of light found in nature and the cosmos. Garrard’s and Gali’s harmonious paintings encapsulate the feeling of lightness of being, and can be seen as portals to a higher state of awareness.

This exhibition features four women artists: Aigana Gali, Rachel Garrard, Kristy Chan, Eleanor Johnson , whose work explores light—both as a physical property and as a state of being. Some works imbue a sense of enlightenment, creating a space in which the viewer may contemplate the beauty of simply being, of living in the present moment. Other works explore the paradox or reconciliation of lightness and heaviness, presenting a sense of movement between light and shadow, depth and weightlessness.

Featuring artists from the East and the West, this exhibition shines light on a universal conversation. In a world that can sometimes feel overbearing–looming with dark clouds of the impending environmental crisis, increasing social divisiveness, and the uncertainty of political climates–it is through art that we may reflect and find silver linings. Bringing together artworks that reconcile lightness and heaviness, this exhibition invites the viewer to ultimately feel lifted by these paintings. Heaviness may be transformed into weightlessness–a change in perception can make possible a flight into a realm of lightness.

Curated by Claudia Cheng, Kwai Fung Hin Gallery, March - April 2023