This vibrant artwork features a surreal, fantastical scene. The composition is dynamic, with bold, undulating shapes and lines in a range of hues, including turquoise, pink, and warm neutrals. The central figures, depicted in a dreamlike, stylized manner, appear to be engaged in a whimsical, acrobatic dance or performance. The artist's distinctive approach combines elements of figurative and abstract expressionism, creating a visually captivating and imaginative work that invites the viewer to ponder the deeper symbolic or narrative meanings behind the surreal imagery. ...
Areena Ang combines painting, drawing, and digital media to explore themes of identity, memory, and the uncanny. Their work often blurs the boundaries between the animate and inanimate, imbuing everyday objects with a sense of life and agency. Ang's compositions frequently draw from personal experiences and cultural narratives, creating a dialogue between the individual and the collective. In recent years, Ang's painting practice has evolved, moving away from figurative representation towards a more abstract and object-focused approach. This shift reflects a deeper engagement with the materiality of their subjects and a desire to explore the inherent narratives embedded within objects and spaces. Their work often features domestic scenes and familiar items, reimagined in surreal and emotive contexts that challenge perceptions of normalcy and provoke introspection. Ang's artistic influences are diverse, drawing inspiration from various artists and movements that resonate with their exploration of identity and narrative. This eclectic approach allows Ang to create works that are rich in texture and meaning, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of the human experience through a unique visual language. Through their evolving practice, Areena Ang continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling, creating works that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. ...
The Approach is co-directed by Jake Miller and Emma Robertson. Located in Bethnal Green above The Approach Tavern, for over twenty years it has operated an internationally recognised programme from its East London base. The gallery is known for discovering artists and establishing their careers as well as making inter-generational curated group shows a strong focus. The list of represented artists includes the Estates of important overlooked female artists Heidi Bucher and Maria Pinińska Bereś, as well as seminal British collage artist John Stezaker, together with established and emerging artists including Magali Reus, Peter Davies, Lisa Oppenheim, Sandra Mujinga, Pam Evelyn, Sara Cwynar, Sam Windett and Caitlin Keogh. Over the years the gallery has operated parallel programmes in additional gallery spaces in London’s West End (The Approach W1) and in Shoreditch (The Reliance). The gallery is currently based solely in its original East End location and continues to expand its programme, showcasing its represented artists in the main gallery space, and both represented and non-represented artists in The Annexe, a smaller, more experimental space at the back of the building. ...
