Jose Parla in Hong Kong

Last Thursday (May 14), I headed out to José Parlá’s opening for his first solo show in Hong Kong (001BOTOS Gallery in Wan Chai). This was my first time at the gallery and I have to admit that it’s quite small(it was converted from a convenience/grocery store I heard). My only qualm is that I felt like José could have definitely done it at a bigger space to really showcase his work fairly. It’s hard for me to fully appreciate his work in a cramped space. I remember when we worked with him in Beijing for The New Grand Tour, the large warehouse space at 798 really played to José’s work, allowing people to step back and look at his complicated and layered “typography” from a distance.

Anyways, this exhibition “Reading Through Seeing” includes some old and some new work. A nice surprise was seeing his work on a new format: Bizen Clay (after his trip to Japan) and also a special piece he did especially for the people of Hong Kong (in the photos above). It was nice catching up with José and of course listening to Suitman spin vinyl on the street next to the street vendors and garbage. Definitely go check out “Reading Through Seeing” at the 001BotosGallery in Wan Chai, it ends July 11th.