審査員評

In Shirley Gong's artwork we travel through the labyrinths of the unconscious. From Freud's teachings to Castaneda's works and back. Here you can "fall down the rabbit hole" and get lost in the world of illusions. The artist presents us with a symbiosis of different cultures and historical periods. The illustrations are skillfully executed and full of metaphors. The author's style vaguely reminded me of medieval heraldry. Such an unexpected combination.

Ekaterina Borodacheva

Gong's s paintings have a unique visual language, blending relief art with 2D illustration. She impressed me with strong compositions, a well-balanced color palette, and beautifully polished details in this mythical series. The overall tone carries a solemn and sacred ceremonial feel, which I find both rare and striking.

Max Liu

The intricate patterns of both the main subjects and backgrounds in this series evoke images of totems and mythical creatures, giving the works a strong decorative quality. The overall color palette is calm and refined, while the selective use of vivid colors highlights details, making the illustrations exquisitely crafted.

Moon Q

Shirley Gong’s series “Fragments of Unconscious” presents a mythic, ornamental world where symbols and creatures intertwine in surreal narratives. Her confident command of form and composition results in intricate, tapestry-like images that feel at once ancient and contemporary. Each piece is dense with detail — snakes, eyes, crowns, bones — yet remains balanced and harmonious through elegant layout and muted color palettes. The ornamental logic and metaphorical richness invite multiple interpretations, making the work both visually captivating and mentally engaging.

Nadiia Zhelieznova

The subtle fusion of colours, shapes and elements in this group of works successfully constructs a visual metaphor system full of symbolism and philosophical enquiries. The mysterious symbols interpreted by the 'unconscious' beings in the picture resemble a set of metaphysical codes waiting to be deciphered, prompting viewers to contemplate the entity of existence.

Yimin Wang

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