gok3 and gaau3 are Cantonese heterophones for the word 覺, with the first pronunciation meaning ‘awakening’ and the latter one denoting ‘slumber’. Unresolved thoughts keep one listless in the quagmire of resentment against the world and oneself, and to transcend from such dormancy, awareness is fundamental. As we wrestle with our own cognition and with the perception of others, we cannot evade friction. Sparks produced by the friction could dissipate in the blink of an eye, but they could also bring about a stronger reaction: titled gok3/gaau3, Reo Ma’s first solo exhibition features mixed media assemblages created out of discarded wood, metal and leather, materialising transformation. The raw and unrefined visual quality that his sculptures take on reflect the spontaneity and immediacy of his artmaking. Unorthodox and defiant, he bares the process of creation.

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Artist Reo Ma

with essay by Tommy Cheung and interview by Brady Ng

ISBN 978-1-906576-84-4

2024, Paperback, 13 x 21 cm, 96 pages

Language: English and Chinese

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