ESMB Gallery Debuts an Inspired Collaboration Between Sylvia Ong and Aoris
This week in Paris, ESMB gallery debuts Dubai-based multidisciplinary artist Sylvia Ong’s inaugural solo show “Ouverture,” on view through October 23. Through an intuitive technique of lyrical expressionism, a symphony of color and emotion unfolds, bringing to light the profound depths of human perception and consciousness. Each dynamic work evokes the ever-evolving mysteries of nature by way of both sweeping brush strokes and labyrinthine details, culminating in vibrant and majestic landscapes.
In a singular collaboration with Greece-based music composer Aoris, a six-track EP was created alongside the exhibition, inspired by and enhancing the poetic works of oil on canvas.
Sylvia Ong, “Echoes No. 3,” 2023, 59 x 59 in., oil on canvas; courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
Sylvia Ong’s Latest Paintings Present a Melodic Utopia
“It’s extraordinary when music can paint a picture of a place in your imagination,” said Ong. “I’m much more of a musical and expressive person in my own inner world; colors are my way of communication.”
Sound and music play a critical role in the artist’s deft process, serving as an entry point to a melodic utopia of infinite discoveries and revelations. Work titles such as Spring Nocturne (2023), Woven Dreamscapes (2023), and Echoes No.1 (2023) evoke a visceral understanding of our exterior and interior worlds, bringing each together in thrilling and cinematic unison.
Installation view of Sylvia Ong’s ” Overture,” courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
Passage No. 1 (2023) intermeshes burnished hues of mulberry, tangerine, and emerald with brighter tones of azure, rose, and kelly green, presenting a hypnotic journey through crisp water and fields of flora and fauna. Echoes No. 2 (2023) unveils a passageway to enlightenment through a seemingly impenetrable jungle of violet, peacock blue, and forest green, while Reverie No. 2 (2023) expresses full transparency in a rush of cobalt and chartreuse.
Sylvia Ong, “Passage No. 3,” 2023, 59 x 59 in., oil on canvas; courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
Composer Aoris Unveils a Bespoke Album of Sensorial Magic
“She [Sylvia] is a remarkable human, so passionate and full of artistic drive, a true life force,” said Aoris. “Upon presenting me with her paintings, as she was creating them, I was able to dive deep into her intricate lines and brushwork motion, and at times I became entirely entranced by her captivating work.”
Each piece is accompanied by a bespoke musical track designed by Aoris. Deeply influenced by the title of the show, as well as by the comprehensive, abstract paintings, the musical artist fused a trademark style with classical and modern references, producing minimalist compositions whose mesmeric, ambient nature exquisitely compliment the surreal works.
Installation view of Sylvia Ong’s ” Overture,” courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
The cathartic rhythms of Dream were directly inspired by artworks Dream No.1 and 2 (2023), revealing glittering links between the soul, mind, and spirit. The Memory Minuet echoes the delicate warmth of The Memory Minuet No.2 (2023), an ode to tranquility and restoration, and Interlude, a reflection of the exhilarating painting Interlude (2023) is a jazzy promise of the perpetual cycle of rebirth and renewal in all living things.
The immersive exhibition “Ouverture” by Sylvia Ong is on view at ESMB, a project founded by Egle Sakalauskaite and Massine Benoukaci, in Paris through October 23.
Installation view of Sylvia Ong’s ” Overture,” courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
Sylvia Ong, “Overture,” 2023, 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in., oil on canvas; courtesy of the artist and ESMB gallery.
