"In The Flesh" is the second exhibition in a series featuring four compelling female artists from Hong Kong. Building on the theme of the previous show, "Skin Deep,” this exhibition probes beyond the surface from a female perspective to explore how appearances can both conceal and reveal deeper truths. Carol Ho, Celia Ko, and new-to-this-series Doris Ling present their latest contemporary figurative paintings, while Bridget Steis unveils new fibre creations. As the title suggests, “In the Flesh" examines multi-layered interpretations of the body, identity, and the enduring question of what is real.

Carol Ho’s hyper-stylized female portraits challenge contemporary aesthetics with their monstrous and kitsch-coloured forms. These vibrant and provocative works penetrate the façade of conventional humanity, exposing the raw, twisted self beneath the socially accepted, skin-deep prettiness we present to the world. Intriguingly feminine, playful yet obscure, and rich in visual references, Ho's paintings dare to reveal what lies beneath the surface.

Celia Ko’s new series juxtaposes the bubble-wrapped and unwrapped female nudes. Through her distinct painterly treatment, the voluptuous body appears simultaneously revealed and obscured by translucent bubble wrap. Introducing symbolic objects such as the mannequin and gourd, Ko constructs a layered narrative and meaning fuelled with erotic suggestions. Her work continues to explore the role of painting in the objectification of the body, the complex act of seeing and the perception of real.

Doris Ling captures profound human emotions through her intense, hyper-realistic portraits of humans, canines and felines. Her paintings are powerful and unflinching, never shying away from brutal truths while balancing horror with humour. With fierce, sculptural brushstrokes, Ling reveals the complex inner lives of her subjects—plotting and gleeful, cunning and angry, shocked and scared. These portraits serve as powerful allegories, embodying the mysterious depths of the human psyche.

Bridget Steis’ fibre artwork redefines the relationship between craft and identity, transforming female breasts from objects of desire into platforms for empowerment. Her vibrant, intricate creations challenge dismissive views of women's crafts, elevating the tactile to provoke contemplation on women's issues. Through the delicate dance of fibres, Steis invites engagement with the beauty, intimacy, strength, and humour inherent in femininity.