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Phillip Hua

philliphua's picture
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
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I create photomontages that interweave images of nature celebrated against a backdrop of stock indexes from financial newspapers. The juxtaposition of nature and wealth places these values vying for attention in the same space.

After digitally manipulating composited photos, I create prints that I handwork on rice paper. These prints are then scanned in, reconfigured, then printed with UV cured acrylic ink on Acrylite and gilded in gold metal leaf.

The gold symbolizes wealth and opulence and nature becomes reflected as a commodity. But the gold metal is merely a perception of gold, representing a false sense of abundance. All that glitters is not gold. What we assume to be an endless supply is, in fact, an illusion. What do we prioritize? What do we value more? What are we willing to sacrifice for one or the other? I want viewers to be lured by the beauty of nature and ensnared by the conscience of conservation.