30°N Parallel North Exhibition @ Harbour City

LMF band member and artist Prodip Leung, trendsetter Eric Kot (Kot), and design studio Taurus Workshop are collaborating for the first time to present the “30°N Parallel North” exhibition, taking place at the Gallery by the Harbour from now until 29 September 2024. This exhibition draws creative inspiration from the myths and legends of ancient civilizations located along the 30th parallel north. This latitude features numerous incredible landscapes and mysterious phenomena, such as the Mississippi River in the United States, the Nile River in Egypt, the ancient Egyptian pyramids, the Maya civilization in Central America, and the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan, China. These elements have significantly influenced the development of human philosophy, science, and artistic culture today.

Artists Prodip and Kot draw inspiration from these ancient civilization myths, collaborating with Taurus Workshop to create over 20 brand-new paintings and sculptures using a variety of materials and clever traditional craftsmanship. Featured works include Prodip’s “Odd Fellas” art book with a tile set, art prints, and Plants of Gods plant art containers; as well as five HEROIC KOGIANT resin sculptures themed around the 30th parallel north and KOGIANT sterling silver pins by Kot. The exhibition also unveils a range of exclusive collectibles, inviting everyone to explore the myths and legends of ancient civilizations along the latitude.

Prodip’s Stunning Second Art Book Featuring Exclusive Tile Set 

Prodip is excited to unveil his highly anticipated second personal art book—“Odd Fellas” Artbook with Tile Set—marking his return since the first release in 2007. Over the past year, he and his team has meticulously crafted this project, experimenting extensively to capture the mysterious and fantastical essence of aliens.

The “Odd Fellas” Artbook is available in two exclusive versions, each featuring a distinctive binding technique on the cover and bottom. Inside the cover, readers will discover a specially designed printed tile that presents Prodip’s alien artwork in a unique way. The innovative printing technique used on the tile results in rich, saturated colours, while the surface pattern is treated to be scratch- and stain-resistant, ensuring it remains vibrant even with long-term storage. This art book stands out with its high-quality seven-colour printing, moving beyond traditional four-colour methods. Ten pages feature three metallic colours for a striking special effect, while the interior pages are coated with a waterproof layer, allowing for permanent preservation. Each book is elegantly wrapped in a two-tone fabric on the spine, and the back cover is embossed with a unique serial number, with only 300 copies available.

Prodip’s “Odd Fellas” Prints – A Fusion of Innovation and Artistry on Japanese Washi Paper

Prodip’s four limited edition “Odd Fellas” prints also make their debut, crafted using innovative printing techniques on Japanese washi paper. The prints are titled “Eli,” “Being 6,” “I Can See Through You,” and “Reiki Starman.”

Both “Eli” and “I Can See Through You” feature a combination of offset and silk-screen printing techniques. They incorporate iridescent effects and selective UV gloss on the patterns, while other areas are adorned with shimmering gold or silver finishes. The front has a silky texture, while the back has a matte finish. “Being 6” is uniquely created with eight colours of ink, printing each space of the aliens in different layers of metallic colours, allowing for varying iridescent effects when viewed from different angles, enhancing the mysterious aura of the aliens. Both the front and back have a distinct matte texture. “Reiki Starman” is printed with specially formulated deep black ink and features a matte silver printing layer, finished with glow-in-the-dark green special ink. Each print showcases exquisite craftsmanship and holds significant collectible value.

Prodip’s “Plants of Gods” Plant Art Containers Featuring Crackle Glaze and Rusted Copper Designs

Prodip and Kot have closely collaborated with Taurus Workshop to create a series of artistic works with meticulous craftsmanship.

Among them are plant art containers launched under Prodip’s Caudex brand, “Plants of Gods”, including the Hallucination Tattoo crackle glaze ceramic version. The production of the crackle glaze ceramic took over a year, involving 28 processes from design, mould making, slurry production, glazing, to firing. After multiple tests, only a total of 100 sets of finished products were created, making them extremely precious. Another version is the rusted copper edition, produced through 13 processes and limited to 25 pieces, each made with different types of copper and oxidation effects. Each ceramic piece is a unique collectible, showcasing a natural beauty formed under layered oxidation.

Kot’s Limited Edition HEROIC KOGIANT Resin Sculptures

Kot has introduced five unique resin sculptures themed around the 30°N Parallel North, based on his HEROIC KOGIANT design concept. Each sculpture reflects meticulous craftsmanship, as the varying expansion rates of the resin require skilled artisans to hand-paint every detail.

One notable piece is the Egyptian-themed sculpture, which took 14 hours of hand-painting to complete. The intricate electroplating process adds further complexity—any errors during painting could damage the electroplated layer and render the piece unusable, making the production process quite challenging.

Another highlight is the SANXINGDUI KOGIANT sculpture, inspired by the ancient Sanxingdui culture. This piece features a bronze finish combined with rust and aging techniques, requiring six layers of treatment to achieve a realistic effect. To ensure high quality, each sculpture is limited to just 30 pieces, making them valuable collectibles for art lovers.

Discover Unique KOGIANT Pins and Exclusive Merchandise

There are also five KOGIANT pins designed by Kot, four of which are made of S925 sterling silver and feature various techniques including brushing, sanding, mirror polishing, and gold plating, each with its own unique characteristics.

A range of exclusive merchandise will be available for sale at the exhibition, including wooden incense holders, “Steezey” collectible figurines, T-shirts, coasters, and stainless-steel postcards, all expected to spark a collecting frenzy.

30°N Parallel North Exhibition@ Harbour City
Date: 5 – 29 September 2024
Time: 11am – 10pm
Venue: Gallery by the Harbour (Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre, Harbour City)