William Mackinnon: Modern Family

In William Mackinnon’s first solo show in Hong Kong, the artist’s presentation of eight paintings continues his look at the form of the tree as a subject and motif. Titled “Modern Family,” the show’s compositions (viewable through June 25 at Simon Lee Gallery) are the product of a point of change in the artist’s life, situating the tree as protagonist in cropped views that play with an aggregate of materials like automotive enamel, glitter, sections of existing paintings, and his usual oil paint. While Mackinnon’s works are truly what they appear to be (trees) the show touches on a deeper, autobiographical narrative—thoughts of emotions and family relationships that were brought to the surface at the recent sale of a family property, from which the trees are based.