Naïve and Sentimental Painting VIII (small), Spring 2010

oil on linen

600 x 800 mm

Portia, 2007
chest of drawers in Canadian rock maple
895 x 895 x 480 mm

EMPATHY: KHAI LIEW & JOHN YOUNG
Michael Reid at Elizabeth Bay Sydney, 2 March – 2 April 2011


"In their separate approaches and practices, both Young and Liew are deeply interested in aesthetics and history, contemplating its cross-cultural foundations and distilling it in their work with a quiet spirit. What results is not sentimental, heavy handed cliché or didactic. This is one of the empathetic touch points between Young and Liew – an attitude towards the efficacy of artistic practice to play a key role in knowledge production. Their work has wide ranging implications for the Australian community because it demands us to formulate a realistic conversation about history and aesthetics that relates to the experiences of Australian modernity emerging from migration and cross-cultural dialogue."

Aaron Seeto
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney
2011