soul & social: anothermountainman first art solo in london
Forthcoming exhibition
Overview
"Within the 25 years, I gained the respect and occasions from the art circle, museums, institutions and galleries, where I can keep the dialogue with this society, on these topics. But I have never seen my myself an artist. Is it art? Is it design? It just doesn’t matter. "
– anothermountainman (Stanley Wong)
3812 Gallery is thrilled to present “soul & social”, a dedicated retrospective of anothermountainman, showcasing the artist’s multifaceted art practice over the past two decades, with its versatility defying clear-cut categorisation. Stanley Wong, a cultural icon of Hong Kong, operating under the guise of anothermountainman, has traversed the terrains of advertising, graphic design, photography, installation, and filmmaking, wielding each medium as a tool to dissect the intricate interplay between the social sphere and the introspective self. The exhibition will run from 21 November 2025 to 3 January 2026.
“soul & social," as the exhibition is titled, presents a carefully curated selection of works that trace a compelling arc in anothermountainman's artistic journey. The exhibition charts a course from outward-facing explorations of social values — a theme the artist has consciously engaged with since 2001 under the banner of "social"— to a more internalised realm of "soul”, deeply informed by Zen Buddhist philosophies and mantras. This transition, unfolding across the gallery's ground floor and basement, might initially appear as a stark departure. However, it is more accurately understood as an organic evolution rooted in Wong's embrace of Buddhism in the early 2000s, a "graduation," as the artist terms it, towards a spiritual continuum.
The "social" works bear witness to anothermountainman's incisive observations of societal tensions arising from economic shifts, evolving mentalities, and dynamic social forces. Series such as "lanwei," a haunting photographic study capturing the spectral remains of unfinished buildings across China and Asia, serves not merely as documents of urban decay, but as potent visual prompts. These images, often staged with local residents, urge viewers to confront the human cost of unchecked economic ambition, prompting a critical interrogation of societal values. Even in his iconic "Red White Blue" series, showcased at the 51st Venice Biennale, anothermountainman transcends mere lamentation of Hong Kong's social fractures. Instead, he transmutes his profound connection to his home city into a vibrant tapestry of hope, seeking to overwhelm a tarnished past with a vision of a positive future.
In the "soul" chapter, the artist's lens shift inward, reflecting a Zen-inspired tranquillity. Human figures recede, replaced by meticulously arranged natural elements in series such as "reborn ikebana" and "i see ikebana. they are ikebana". These compositions, imbued with a sense of serene austerity, echo Hong Kong literary critic, writer, and TV host Leung Man-tao's observation of anothermountainman's ability to harness the essence of Zen Buddhism: to utilise forms to reveal their true nature and, ultimately, to dissolve them. This evolution is not a renunciation of his earlier concerns, but rather a spiritual elevation, a testament to anothermountainman's unwavering commitment to exploring the depths of human experience through the transformative power of art.
Through this carefully considered selection of works, "soul & social" offers a unique opportunity to explore the unfolding of a singular artistic vision, one that bridges the personal and the political, the material and the spiritual, inviting viewers to engage in a profound dialogue with the world around them and the world within.
