Yu Shuk Pui Bobby: Future Debt. Return Today
Future Debt: Return Today | Press Release
February 8 – March 23, 2024
Opening Reception: February 8, 7-9pm
Gallery Hours: Thurs + Fri: 4-6pm, Sat + Sun: 2-6pm
Open Source Gallery is pleased to present Future Debt. Return Today, an exhibition by Bobby Yu Shuk Pui.
Future Debt. Return Today explores how human genetic engineering impacts identity. Through ceramic sculptures and photographic installations, Bobby examines the fragile and uncertain nature of identity in an era shaped by technological advancement.
The exhibition features a series of ceramic sculptures inspired by the double-helix structure of DNA. These DNA spirals reference human forms, symbolizing the tension between genetic design and the quest for self-identity. They draw on imagery from Pompeii’s plaster casts of bodies, which preserve moments of life frozen in catastrophe, standing as witnesses between history and oblivion. These sculptures are crafted from green crystal clay and ceramic, referencing the narrative of the 2011 Japanese sci-fi anime Steins;Gate, where failed time travelers ultimately transform into a green gelatinous form.
The photographic installation draws inspiration from ancient Minoan frescoes, particularly those discovered in Crete. The fragmented state of these frescoes mirrors the disjointed nature of contemporary identity, particularly in a time when technology continuously disrupts and redefines our understanding of self. Using ceramics, Bobby reimagines the fragility of identity, much like the layers of pigment in Minoan frescoes—which conceal and reveal elements together form a complex image.
Bobby Yu Shuk Pui is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Hong Kong and Oslo. Working across mediums such as video, text, installation, sculpture, and performance, Bobby delves into the intersections of gender, body, and identity, often incorporating speculative fiction and historical discourses. Bobby received her BA from Hong Kong Baptist University and an MFA from Oslo National Academy of Fine Art in 2021. Her work has been exhibited at venues such as Kunstnernes Hus, K4, and Podium in Oslo, as well as Parasite and the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences in Hong Kong. She has also participated in film festivals, winning Best Director at the 17th Freshwave Film Festival in Hong Kong in 2023. In 2025, Bobby will hold solo exhibitions at UKS and Fotografiens Hus in Oslo.
The exhibition is supported in part by Office for Contemporary Art Norway(OCA) and Norsk Billedkunstnere Project Support.
