Options – Cultural Index: What to see and do this week (Oct 7-13)
This highly anticipated solo exhibition is a continuation of Malaysian artist Justin Lim’s research into various depictions of utopia. Previously, in Honey Trap Arcadia (2017), Lim referred to Western ideologies. With Planet Shangri-La, he decided to widen his research to include Eastern interpretations, particularly oriental mythology and traditional blue-and-white porcelain. Hence, the series is identified by a distinctive Dutch blue. Lim expresses a strong sense of melancholy in his narrative through his depiction of underwater landscapes, void of human intervention. He hints at a non-human infested world that is probably what an earthly paradise looks like.