SC Gallery is honoured to present the duo solo exhibition “The Trivial Sublime” by Adrian Wong and Doris Wong. Both artists will showcase a new series of works that reflect on the existential meaning of life and sacred moments stemming from care (for oneself and others).

Historian Timothy David Snyder offers handy rules for living through an absurd era, emphasizing the significance of keeping a daily routine whilst being determined that it doesn’t always require a decisive commitment or a complete life change. Among these, “give regularly to good causes” and “make eye contact and small talk” represent the smallest acts of kindness, expressing direct care. These small gestures collectively form a supportive network that can drive social change.

In recent years, economists have begun advocating for a “well-being economy” rooted in social and environmental concerns, focusing on the impact on future generations and considering ecological pressures on the planet. From the most basic units of society to nature, this approach fosters care, respect, and reverence for nature (bridging rational climate crises with an appreciation for fragile yet beautiful nature). The honor of a sustainable future resembles the spirit of “When Faith Moves the Mountain” – the tiniest moves project an imperishable belief.

Doris Wong’s exhibited works are created after her “Pastel Nagomi Art” classes. This therapeutic mindfulness art emphasizes that no prior painting skills are necessary. Participants apply dry pastels to various stencil plates using fingertips or cotton swabs, combining images and colours to express internal emotional fluctuations through a slow and focused “creation” process. They experience the power of meditation to calm the mind.

The “Living Daily Life with Thich Nhat Hanh” series has gained international popularity, reflecting the public’s desire for mindfulness without crossing religious boundaries while efficiently capturing the extraordinary and sacred moments in the everyday.

Doris continues her past explorations of “learning” through interest classes. As an artist, she embodies the “sensory superpower” of beginners, as described by Tom Vanderbilt in Beginners, questioning the essence of art and making sarcasm on art history. Her work The Garden resembles altar paintings from the medieval to Renaissance periods, shaped like the “Gateway to Heaven.” Under the hazy morning light, the variety and color combinations of flowers reference Monet’s gardens. The neatly arranged plants also resemble Doris’s long exploring themes of “motherhood” and “nurture,” as well as echoing the common Christian phrase “God’s good gardener,” highlighting the sacredness of cultivation and care.

Adrian Wong, trained in psychology, combines his deadpan humour with his works, revealing subconscious desires that remain unspoken in our daily lives. His colour choices and stylistic references intentionally mix the mundane with the aesthetic of plastic stage props, presenting a dislocated version of the mundane. Adrian carries various identities: as a second-generation American Chinese and a professor at a top American university, while also struggling for his artistic practice amid the challenges of daily life. He resonates with the insights of French philosopher Henri Lefebvre, who stated the dualities of everyday. His critique of the mundane is not purely negative; it is infused with emotion as he attempts to establish his integrity while preserving the everyday.

As a father of three, Wong regularly travels between the US and the UK for work. To him, participating in his children’s upbringing and sharing ordinary routines is no doubt the most precious time. This exhibition showcases works inspired by his interactions with his children: turning their hugs into digitalized paintings “January Hug Log”, exaggerated gift-shaped relief sculptures “Birthday Present” and an abstract painting series of children’s daily meal plans “Packed Lunch”. With his works, Wong materializes the fleeting instances of daily life. Especially his meal plan paintings, filled with nutrition simultaneously convey a sense of nurturing and express the subtle yet nourishing love of a father.