Eric Leong, going by the moniker “OUTSIDER”, keenly observes the world and surveys society through his vantage point as an artist, using visual language to express the unsaid. Besides being an artist for more than 15 years, he is an avid art collector and an educator. Outsider has exhibited at several solo shows with Y2Art Gallery and White Space Gallery. He has also had his works displayed at group shows and Art Fairs.
Precious is a reminiscence of my childhood. Although I cannot remember the actual image of my teddy bear named “Yu-Yu” (a gift from my grandmother when I was 5 - wasn’t cheap for her as she doesn’t have much), he was my “Buddy”. One day he was lost and I was heartbroken. My mum comforted me that “Yu-Yu” will always live in my heart and will be looking out for me. I used to fantasize that he will one day pop-out from behind a tree to surprise me. “Yu-Yu” was a symbol of love from my family.
The skull has been portrayed as a symbol of the gothic, horror or even death. It also symbolizes Knowledge or Wisdom. I found it to be beautifully complex – a thing that can be interpreted in diverse ways – both literally and metaphorically. In this work, Am I Beautiful?, I created a metaphor for our need to be beautiful, our obsession with vanity and luxury; and our love for freedom (Freedom to live life, freedom of speech, etc.- the butterflies are symbols of freedom). With this work, I challenge the viewer to decipher the true meaning of what constitutes as beauty.
