Para Site: Not Just Sex (in Hong Kong).

Ten Million Rooms of Yearning. Sex in Hong Kong. Para Site, 4 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan, 5/10-8/10/2014, & other locations (only ‘till 5/25/2014)

The title of the show seemed a bit too schematic, but once visiting the show I have to concur I was mistaken. The show spread out of the Para Site space itself into other locations around Sheung Wan and beyond, offering a variety of viewpoints on the topic without being explicit or schematic. Upon first entrance to the main Para Site space, the dense and collage-like installation gave an intense feeling. In previous Para Site shows I was a bit skeptical about this over-saturation with images, but this time it seems to add to the spirit of the show, linking it with the oversaturation experienced in the public and private spaces of Hong Kong. The majority of works (paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures) were small or medium sized, interlaced with small or medium sized LCD monitors playing back videos. The visitor was encouraged to navigate through the layers of materials and references using his selective attention. In the case something caught the eye’s interest, labels describing the artworks were readily available. Not using a video projection in the small space was a good move of this exhibition. One projection was on display at a remote location in a private flat on Queen Street. Here it seemed a bit lonely, and the installation quality was also more flat-style than gallery style. Maybe the show could have done without it, but I admit climbing up to the 5^th floor of a residential home added to the variety of experience. Another remote location of the exhibition, the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Exhibition Hall (SWCCEH), was on the other hand minutely arranged and it created a great counter-balance to the cluttered and intimate space of Para Site. The SWCCEH was dark and spacious. Large-size artworks which would not even fit into Para Site’s space were on display (large woodblock prints, pastels, photos and an installation).

The show spread to even more small locations, which I decided to pass, but the two main elements – the Para Site space and the SWCCEH formed a wonderful duo of contrasts. On one side the rather intimate space of Para Site covered with artworks wall to ceiling accompanied with the overlapping sounds of videos, on the other side the large dark and quiet space of the SWCCEH where one could see a smaller number of bigger works in a museum-like atmosphere.

I realized this time that Para Site seems to be settling on a certain style of exhibitions, research based and with a lot of storytelling. (Is this the Cosmin Costinas – the Para Site director – style?) Somehow it made me think of Anselm Franke’s approach. He also uses a lot of archival material, mixing artworks with historical references and literature, using traditional museum-like displays, etc. I mention this to highlight a similar approach, but it’s not the same. The sources are different, and also the installation approach is slightly more entertaining at Para Site, while the more text-heavy exhibitions of Franke (TB2012, Animism) can sometimes overwhelm visitors.

I will not write about the content of the show as there is too much to say, I simply encourage you to go and see by yourself. Sex in Hong Kong is a great multi-layered show, with more subtleties than the title would suggest. Sadly, the SWCCEH part of the show will close on 25^th May already, so hurry if you want to see it.