Wednesday, February 10, 2010

For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu and Andrew Brandou @ Munky King

For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

Given all the news around the famous golfer, I would say it's still an odd choice of title for this show regardless of the Chinese Astrology. Perhaps it's an intended pun? Who knows.

You are cordially invited to join us at "For the Love of Tiger" a two-person exhibition featuring LA based artists Martin Hsu and Andrew Brandou. For those of you not able to come, we're opening our cyber doors to the exhibition for a preview. Hope you can make it to the opening reception this Thursday, Feb 11th, 7-10pm to see the rest of the show and meet the artists.

For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

FOR THE LOVE OF TIGER
This exquisite piece features Brandou's new abstract style using natural elements to form his ferocious tiger. "I started it (new technique) because I wanted to do something "pretty". I felt my work was not really reflecting how I felt at the time, which was in love. . . . and showing that when you find that kind of love, everything is beautiful." - Andrew Brandou

Hsu gracefully compliments Brandou's Tiger with illuminated flowers and vines, while incorporating the Chinese symbol for luck. Chinese mythology believes that tigers bring good fortune, and young children dress in tiger hats for protection against evil spirits in keeping with custom.


For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

PROTECT, REVIVE
"This piece inverts the traditional relationship of children and tigers within Chinese folklore - rather than having the Tiger protecting the children, the Children (in Tiger suits) are caring for the Tiger represented in an abstract from as a tree in the forest."

-Jack from Vinyl Pulse


For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

HAPPINESS EXPONENTIALLY
Hsu's piece beautifully renders the Chinese symbol for happiness in abstract form using children and tigers. Normally, the joining of happiness symbols is used in Chinese weddings to celebrate the union - double happiness.

"I wanted to show that Tigers bring kids infinite happiness and vice versa."
-Martin Hsu


For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu
For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

I first met Martin at the Alternative Press Expo in SF last year. Super nice guy. Very chill. I mentioned that I liked his art and that it reminded me of the Chinese Folk art from Jinshan and Huxian. I then muttered something like "it's got that "Ni Hao Kailan" thing going on..." He immediately responded, "funny you should say that because I was a character designer on that show for a couple of years..." He then accused me of having kids cause nobody else around APE knows what Ni Hao Kailan is...lol. Anyways, proof of the encounter is here as the very gracious Martin offered to draw this sketch of Kailan which is the envy of all my daughter's classmates. Thanks Martin!

For the Love of Tiger: Martin Hsu

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