disCONNECT - A 'Locked-down' Artist Takeover

Ever since there has been trading in the history of mankind, different cultures have inevitably been interwoven together. Even though one can argue it wasn’t until the internet has been commercialized have we truly experienced globalization, the point is that whether in the East or the West, we all undoubtedly share common experiences.

Now that we’re facing the same pandemic together, the physical distance brings us even closer.

Schoeni Projects London, a creative exhibition space and collaborative forum with an upcoming artist in residency programs and artist studio spaces, is opening their Hong Kong branch in Wong Chuk Hang in November 2020. Though COVID-19 has caused a major hiccup, it isn’t stopping the project from promoting the careers of emerging and established international artists.

Working with HKwalls, they are continuing to push forth their cross-culture exchange exhibition disCONNECT. From July 14 to August 24, 2020, a Victorian townhouse in South West London will be transformed into a hub for site-specific works, where artists such as Alexandre Farto, aka ‘Vhils’ (Portugal), Aida Wilde (Iran), Isaac Cordal (Spain), and our personal favorite Herakut (Germany) are involved. Not only are the concepts of psychological and political reactions to the crisis being explored, but the physical lockdown restrictions have also been turned into opportunities, creating digital initiatives such as downloadable artworks, online videos, virtual tours, public artwork submissions, online audience access, and an Instagram Live interview series.

Some highlighted artworks include the reposition of one of the house toilets as a ‘pandemic mausoleum’ with donated discarded “lock-down” objects, and pandemic reaction slogans such as ‘FEAR LESS LESS FEAR’ on wallpaper floor lino by Aida Wilde; landscape paintings to provide “a means of escapism for audiences” by Bray; a series of miniatures including “a quarantined masked couple appear both socially and emotionally distanced on their sofa, eyes fixated to phone screens” by Cordal; and Herakut’s installations on the idea of how ‘spending time challenging yourself holds the opportunity to become a better version of yourself – hopefully a nicer, kinder and more appreciative self’.

The works will then travel to Schoeni Projects HK in November to encourage “dialogues and discussions around artistic expression and the current pandemic”.