My Life Is Pointless by Joan Cornellà
Cover Spanish artist Joan Cornellà returns to Hong Kong with a solo exhibition this December. (Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's)

The exhibition is in collaboration with AllRightsReserved and will feature 48 of Cornellà's works, making his biggest solo exhibition in Hong Kong

A solo exhibition of iconic works by acclaimed artist Joan Cornellà is coming back to Hong Kong this December. Titled Contemporary Showcase: My Life Is Pointless by Joan Cornellà features 48 of his works, making it his biggest solo exhibition in the city.

Running from December 15, 2020 to January 29, 2021 at Sotheby's Hong Kong Gallery, the exhibition also marks his third return to Hong Kong after three years. This time, he will showcase his latest life-sized panels, panel paintings bronze sculptures and a selection of limited-edition print works.

"Three years since my last show in the city, the Hong Kong audience can once again witness my representative works as well as some of my latest works, which often explore the combination of text and pictures. It seems this surreal black humour resonates well with the times we live in. Although, as I always say, I’d like my work to speak for itself, and I hope to keep interpretations as open as possible to allow for some sort of critical thinking," says Joan Cornellà.

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'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 7 Après Hawk (2020), acrylic on wood panel, 180 cm
Photo 2 of 7 Krabssseq (2020), acrylic on wood panel, 100 x 72 cm
Photo 3 of 7 Selfie Gun (2020), bronze, 84.6 x 27.8 x 41.6 cm. This work is from an edition of 2, plus 1 artist's proof
Photo 4 of 7 Yogawerk (2020), acrylic on wood panel, 127 x 110 cm
Photo 5 of 7 Vakaam (2020), acrylic on wood panel, 90 x 184 cm
Photo 6 of 7 Preetch (2018), acrylic on paper, 30 x 42.5 cm
Photo 7 of 7 Bootyboop (2020), bronze, 60 x 26 x 30 cm, this work is from an edition of 2, plus 1 artist's proof

His previous exhibitions in Hong Kong were widely popular, with his fame extending overseas with nearly eight million followers on his social media. He is highly regarded on the international stage with works exhibited globally from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing all the way to London, Paris and New York. Cornellà's signature is using satire or black humour to comment on the bleak side of human nature using simplistic visual language and a cheerful colour palette, creating works that are honest, entertaining.

This year, his well-established style has evolved to combine text and imagery as he continues to explore the possibilities and universal resonance of his signature brand of humour.

"Joan Cornellà is undoubtedly an icon of dark humour—there must have been times when his works cracked you up or got on your nerves. Yet, it is this unique, sensational sense of humour of Joan’s that connects with everyone emotionally. The overwhelming response of his previous exhibitions in Hong Kong proves how much the people in this city relate to his worldviews. To many of us, 2020 has been incredibly challenging and it still is. I hope this exhibition, weaved together with laughter and tears, is coming at the right time as we round up the year," says SK Lam, founder of AllRightsReserved.

The exhibition is available by appointment only, reserve your time slot online here. Contemporary Showcase: My Life Is Pointless by Joan Cornellà runs Monday to Friday from 10 am–6 pm and Saturday from 11 am–5 pm at Sotheby's Hong Kong gallery. Closed from December 24, 2020–January 3, 2021 as well as on Sundays and public holidays.

See also: Meet SK Lam, The Man Behind Hong Kong's Most Successful Art Exhibitions