Matthew Wong

"Meanwhile..." (2018) portrays an interior scene where the viewer is given a glimpse of the night sky through a large window covered by venetian blinds. The title possibly alludes to transitioning between two places. The night sky outside reveals an array of stars and a full moon visible through the slats. In the lower right corner of the painting, a mug-like vessel holds a solitary flower with vivid, flame-shaped, red petals, seemingly reaching towards the moon, reminiscent of how plants bend towards the sun. Painted on the vessel is a stick figure beneath some leaves, possibly symbolizing humanity's yearning to capture and hold nature within their own structures.

Despite his struggles with mental illness, including being on the autism spectrum and battling depression since childhood, Matthew Wong admired great artists and created art that profoundly touched emotions of loneliness, melancholy, and brightness that reside within all of us. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, his mother, Monita Cheng Wong, shared his profound inner conflict, describing how he grappled with the challenges posed by his troubled mind, yet managed to produce beautifully vibrant scenes through his art. Wong's paintings resonate with viewers on a deeply emotional level, reflecting his ability to transform his inner turmoil into powerful and evocative works of art.

This work is authorised by the Matthew Wong foundation.