About the event
“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.” — Leonardo da Vinci
Following the theme of a past group exhibition inspired by another one of da Vinci’s quotes “saper vedere” (“knowing how to see”) which demonstrated artists’ understanding of ‘seeing’, the group exhibition Sense6 is a further attempt to explore the subject of basic human senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, as well as the sixth sense. The exhibition features artworks by six contemporary artists Edu Carrillo, Gab More, Maxwell McMaster, Natan Heber, Paul Hunter Speagle and Qin Tan, all newly created for this exhibition.
Aristotle is credited with first numbering the senses in his work De Anima. It is him who noted the ‘big five’ among the senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Modern science suggests thatthere are far more senses than Aristotle thought, nevertheless his philosophy of the five senses had become the gateway to reality. According to his followers, they disclose reality in a reliable way and the portion of reality they disclose is considered to be quite generous. Sense6 presents a way of experiencing reality through five basic senses as well as the magical sixth sense which Aristotle forgot to include. Vision, audition, olfaction, gustation and tactition are practical faculties that help us navigate and stay well-informed about the complex world we live in. The sixth sense on the other hand can be described as a keen intuitive power, an ability to know something without using the ordinary five senses, or as a perception of reality. Sense6 offers us an extrasensory perception of reality presented by six artists through their works and practices.
Edu Carrillo creates flirtatious works as a reflection of friendship and love as opposed to break-up in an almost magical fashion that mirrors the aesthetics and experiences associated with his generation. In Gab More’s paintings, a figurative structure of layered geometric shapes is used to convey inner thoughts and feelings in a semi-fantastical manner. Maxwell McMaster creates works that can be described as dreamy tranquillity with reality being perceived through his version of a crystal ball. Natan Heber transcends the strictly aesthetical by examining the ambiguity and origination of ideas via multi-layered and dissected images of his forever-child characters. Through a new series of paintings, Paul Hunter Speagle offers a new perspective of awareness towards some of the most pressing issues of our societies. Lastly, Qin Tan presents us with a ‘universal man’ in virtual-like landscape, mirroring a fundamental form of human being in a world filled with vibrant landscapes and earthly delights.
Aristotle was wrong about one thing, we experience reality and perceive the world through more than five senses, but he was right about one thing for sure—“All men by nature desire to know. An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses”*.
Quote from Aristotle, Metaphysics.
About the organizer
Established in Hong Kong (2014) and in Tokyo (2018), JPS Gallery is an independent contemporary art gallery presenting works of emerging and established artists from around the world. In the autumn of 2022 JPS will establish two new gallery spaces in Paris and Barcelona.
The gallery was founded with a passionate spirit that dedicates to the new digital age and the exploration of fine art and pop culture. We aim to create an innovative environment for a new generation of artists and collectors, fostering a creative space for all. We focus on contemporary works of the era that span across different medium and disciplines, showcasing a discerning selection of works that embody the aesthetics of today.
We are committed to supporting the culture and art scene both in Hong Kong and Japan, creating a vibrant local art community. The gallery regularly presents works of emerging artists in our gallery spaces in Hong Kong and Tokyo as well as international art fairs, giving them a platform to gain global exposure and supporting young artists to launch their careers. JPS has also been an active contributor to society and the local art scene by sponsoring various charity events and auctions.