AD ASTRA

Hong Kong — Odds and Ends is pleased to present Ad Astra, a debut solo exhibition by Hong Kong artist Lio Sze Mei. On view will be new works by Lio, from March 1st to April 8th 2023, with an opening reception on March 1st (Wednesday) from 6-9pm. 


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Derived from the Latin phrase “per aspera ad astra”, meaning “through hardships through the star”, Ad Astra is an exhibition heavily inspired by J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. The allure that Neverland holds for Lio is in its phantom nature and the infinite potentiality in childhood. In Lio’s utopia, a child is permitted to inhabit a boundless world of dreaming, they’re free from the pressure of committing to a path or definite self. Working with canvas and metal plates, Lio creates hauntingly beautiful dreamt up landscapes that emulate the hazy effect of dream collection.

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Lio Sze Mei is a Hong Kong artist who graduated from the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University in 2016. Lio’s practice is anchored in exploration of dreams, fairytales and childhood. Taking inspiration from popular children literature such as J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, Lio’s works tap into the mindset of children in a visual dissection of the language of dreams.