Andrew Tong

Modern Times is my take on humanity's defects of character: Greed, Selfishness, Ignorance, Self-Delusion, etc. The list goes on and on – this body of work with its references to modern life expresses a raucous skepticism of our accepted values.

The incredible technological advances throughout the last century have been used to unleash mechanical warfare, mass death and totalitarian politics, shaping our future in profound ways but also repeating history's patterns yet again.

Technology is also "re-writing" our social norms – how we relate to one another and identify ourselves – and in the process creating personal realities of escapism while facilitating our craving for instant gratification. As long as people believe happiness can be bought, governments can do what they want.

As for the insect references, their world has witnessed many global catastrophes and yet they have survived by constantly evolving and adapting to their ever changing environments. I see them as observers to Man's existence and in many ways we are alike. It will be up to us how we redefine our world and change our role on this planet.

Where are we heading and how do we respond to a very real sense of civilization's fragility? How do individuals respond to the authority of the State? Each painting tells its own story and poses questions that everyone will interpret differently, each us creating our own individual dialogue.

"Art is not an end in itself – more pure naiveté is necessary for that – but it is an opportunity for the true perception and criticism of the times we live in."

Hugo Ball