Allison M. Low, The Pull-Along
Existing in the mysterious chaos of in-between states is the surreal world of “The Luckier”. This is where dreams meld with reality, where the lost try to find their way. It is in this liminal space where Singapore-based artist Allison M. Low examines the disenchantment found in the pursuit of “success”.
Her foray into the world of “The Luckier” was inevitable. Building upon her fascination with the emotional chaos that arises out of worry and unease, her new body of work was born out of the artistʼs struggle during a particularly trying time.
Each of Allison’s ten paintings, a careful balance of delicate graphite pencil strokes against layers of pastels, gouache, and acrylic, represent an attempt at wresting back control in the face of the unknown.
Taking inspiration from Chinese fortune charms, which focus on wordplay, Allisonʼs portraits of children and fantastical chimera are imbued with existential angst and dread. Her paintings suggest a rich interior world fuelled by visual metaphors: apples represent peace, bats are synonymous with happiness, and cicadas ward off mortality. In contrast to these almost fairy tale-like characters, the stoic looks on the childrenʼs faces capture an unspoken tension.
“To me, The Luckier refers to a kind of ideal self: one that doesnʼt doubt opportunity, indulge in self-sabotage, or allow the absurdity of an ideal to ruin the pursuit of it,”
says Allison.
Venue: K+, Scotts Square, #03-11, Singapore
When: 29 Mar - 13 May 2018,
