Element Art Space is pleased to announce its participation in the 5th edition of ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair. The gallery will be located at Stand P04, presenting Tomorrow Must be Better by Lugas Syllabus. Syllabus has always intertwined small and large histories, ethnic and universal legends, folklore and comic strips in his works. In doing so, he gives them equal weighting and creates a perplexing, new hybridity. In Tomorrow Must be Better, he directs attention to a set of simplistic moralistic principles—the sin of greed and its punishment. The lessons of King Midas, who lusted for gold and in doing so, lost what was more precious than gold itself. His touch made everything turn to gold, even his food and his beloved daughter.  

Gold has recently emerged as a prominent symbol in Syllabus’ body of works. The symbolism of gold is more than just to signify wealth but alludes to a duality of yearning and regret, excess and loss-in-gain. Gold is universal as currency and a portent—characteristic of all that is beautiful, highly prized and valuable. The choice in employing such a seemingly obvious symbol is worth pondering, as Syllabus is never so simplistic as to give his full meaning at first glance. For him, the symbolism of gold is more than just to signify wealth, but alludes to a duality of yearning and regret, excess and loss-in-gain. On closer examination, the artist does not sit in judgment nor outwardly condemn the flawed nature of man but instead brings our attention to the contradictory aspects of human nature—the inescapable qualities of desire that lead to our inevitable, cyclical demise and regeneration.

ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair

Shanghai Exhibition Center No. 1000, Yan An Middle Road, Shanghai, China 

Dates & Hours

Friday, 10 November 2017 1PM – 8PM

Saturday, 11 November 2017 11AM – 6PM

Sunday, 12 November 2017 11AM – 6PM