About SIN SIN MAN | Earthly Evocations at Sin Sin Fine Art

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sin Sin Man has had a close relationship with the earth and art of Indonesia for over thirty years. In 1998 Sin Sin left her position as an internationally successful commercial accessories designer to open Sin Sin Atelier, an integrated art and design environment where Sin Sin could develop and communicate her deep-held belief that art should be present in every aspect of our lives, from what we wear to the spaces in which we live. Her close affinity to Balinese culture in particular can be understood in this light. A hands-on artist and adventurer as well as a designer, Sin Sin has travelled to many parts of Asia, including Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia, to study with and work beside traditional craftsmen and women, seeking ways to utilize traditional textile, painting and craft techniques within a meaningful contemporary context. Her textile and clothing designs have incorporated hand-made Mongolian cashmere felt, handwoven Cambodian silk, hand-woven Nepalese cashmere wool, and hand-dyed Javanese batik, all representing her personal study of these techniques, and her deep respect for the local traditions from which they emerge.

Sin Sin has also collaborated directly with contemporary visual artists in the creation of works, including textiles, jewellery and environments. During her frequent visits to Indonesia, where she now has her second home, Sin Sin came to know and champion the work of Indonesian contemporary artists. In 2003 she opened Sin Sin Fine Art gallery in the Central district of Hong Kong, in part to create an opportunity to bring Indonesian contemporary art to the city’s local and international audiences. There, and at her gallery’s current location in Sheung Wan, Sin Sin has presented the work of emerging and established Indonesian contemporary artists through acclaimed exhibitions such as ‘Indonesian Invasion’ (2008) ,‘Diverse- 40 x 40’ (2009), and many solo shows, and in so doing has made a unique contribution to fostering a deeper level of understanding and awareness of the vibrant Indonesian contemporary arts scene. In celebration of the ‘Earthly Evocations’ exhibition, Sin Sin is presenting her series of naturally dyed cotton clothing, embellished with batik designs based on animal motifs often seen in Indonesian handicraft, and created by Sin Sin in Yogyakarta in collaboration with master batik craftswomen.

Bird, in Blue - Hands on Yogyakarta | Hand-painted Batik on Cotton | Sin Sin Man©2011

Monkey - Hands on Yogyakarta | Hand-painted Batik on Cotton | Sin Sin Man©2011

Dragonfly, in Black - Hands on Yogyakarta | Hand-painted Batik on Cotton | Sin Sin Man©2011

Hands on Yogyakarta | Hand-painted Batik on Cotton | Sin Sin Man©2011

	Earthly Evocations: Indonesian Art Now 17 May - 17 June 2012
	Curatorial Notes \| The Artists