Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong is set to present “Aura Within,” a group exhibition that brings together artists deeply engaged with the cultural narratives of Asia and its diaspora. Organized by Hong Kong-based curator Anqi Li, the show invites viewers to consider the human body as a central point of reference in contemporary life, exploring themes of existence, identity, and the connection between urban landscapes and spiritual well-being.
The exhibition features several artists whose work directly engages with the physical form and its traces. London-based Filipino artist Nicole Coson, in her Hong Kong debut, presents two large oil paintings where she uses her own body to create imprints of shipping container doors—a direct reference to globalization and the connection between Hong Kong and her native Manila. Similarly, South Korean artist Haneyl Choi’s “trauma-scapes” juxtapose fragile organic shapes with cold industrial materials, creating a dialogue around struggle, confinement, and repair. The works of Bharti Kher also touch upon identity, utilizing the bindi as a recurring motif that connects the spiritual and physical worlds.
Other artists in the exhibition turn their focus inward, exploring states of quiet contemplation. A new painting by Berlin-based artist Shota Nakamura, ‘Untitled (garden)’ (2025), portrays figures in moments of rest and meditation, creating a sense of emotional depth and introspection. This theme of inner reflection is also present in the work of the late Taiwanese artist Yeh Shih-Chiang. His painting, ‘Green Sea and White Sail Framed in a Window’ (2007), created during a period of rural seclusion, uses the image of a lone sail not as a landscape element, but as a reflection of the artist’s own inner self.
The transformation of the surrounding environment is another key theme. Chinese artist Peng Ke’s work, ‘Begin Again’ (2024), elevates mundane urban fragments, such as a tree stump or leaves in concrete, into luminous stained-glass panels. The late Hong Kong artist Luis Chan found inspiration in his environment, allowing accidental ink splashes to evolve into whimsical figures drawn from his observations of the city’s society. The late Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo’s work offers a more critical view, using caged dioramas as “pathological allegories” of modern civilization.
“Aura Within” is presented in collaboration with Clearing, Hanart TZ Gallery, Make Room, P21, and Silverlens. The exhibition is part of Hauser & Wirth’s broader commitment to fostering dialogue within the art communities where it operates.
The exhibition will be on view from July 10 to August 30, 2025. An opening reception is scheduled for July 10 from 6-8 PM. It will be preceded by a conversation with artists Nicole Coson, Peng Ke, curator Anqi Li, and Tobias Berger from 5-6 PM. Curator-led guided tours are scheduled for July 19 and August 23 at 3 PM.
