JASON PHU
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
16 November – 21 December 2024
STATION | MELBOURNE
STATION is delighted to present our fourth solo exhibition with Jason Phu, the deepest love in the deepest well of despair.
Phu’s multi-disciplinary practice often intertwines a wide range of references, including traditional ink calligraphy, readymade objects, everyday vernacular, ancient folklore, personal narratives and historical events. Working across an array of mediums, Phu often turns to humour to debunk ubiquitous themes such as love, life and death. While the viewer is prompted to ponder these all- encompassing topics, Phu throws them into question by exploring their trivial nature. Using large swaths of colourful imagery and drawing on a number of cultural references, Phu uses his distinct visual language to investigate these nuances within a uniquely Australian context.
Phu’s latest series, the deepest love in the deepest well of despair, weaves together a rich tapestry of cultural references across six canvases, drawing inspiration from diverse mythologies and religious figures. These include the Chinese legend of Hou Yi and the suns, the Greek myth of Narcissus and his reflection, as well as religious figures of Jesus and Buddha. Collectively, the works bring to mind the tradition of Chinese scrolls, which typically portray a single scene across various time periods. Similarly, Phu mirrors this technique through the recurring presence of characters, creating a sense of evolving narrative within each piece.
To browse the catalogue, please click here.
Installation Views
Artworks
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 1) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 2) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 3) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 4) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 5) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 6) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (study) 2024
mixed media on paper in traditional Chinese Concertina sketchbook
28 × 119 cm (study); 28 × 20 cm (book)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of desire (trailer) 2024
digital video, single-channel, 4.54 minutes
edition of 3 + 1 AP
Jason Phu
i am tired and i dont even remember the beginning of time anymore let alone the future when all of this will begin again 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
begging for pants under the stars is more dignified than wearing pants proudly 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
coaxing the snake out is never the job of the bitten 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
day dreams of heavy anvils turn into heavy anvils dropped from the sky on days we write poetry and drink coffee 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
a herald of nothing wearing a mask of dreams hiding tears of a broken heart riding what looks to be a giant turd doing a turd getting sprayed with a machine gun turret of bird shit, 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
baby on a turtles back unaware of the harsh sun or endless ocean of sadness 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
apex predator catches prey and then what? david attenborough furiously masturbating, hidden by the long grass we have seen this episode and yet we still watch 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
humans given fire to warm their hearts instead burn god to the ground 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
impaled by the elephant in the room under the crescent moon obscured by giant moths is it auspicious? or is each and every day i live full of mishap 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
red boy fights monkey but in this story nothing is left of monkey guanyin ascended long ago 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair
Photo: Simon Strong
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 1) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 2) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 3) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 4) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 5) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (panel 6) 2024
acrylic on polycotton
213 × 1188 cm (6 panels, 213 × 198 cm each)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of despair (study) 2024
mixed media on paper in traditional Chinese Concertina sketchbook
28 × 119 cm (study); 28 × 20 cm (book)
Jason Phu
the deepest love in the deepest well of desire (trailer) 2024
digital video, single-channel, 4.54 minutes
edition of 3 + 1 AP
Jason Phu
i am tired and i dont even remember the beginning of time anymore let alone the future when all of this will begin again 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
begging for pants under the stars is more dignified than wearing pants proudly 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
coaxing the snake out is never the job of the bitten 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
day dreams of heavy anvils turn into heavy anvils dropped from the sky on days we write poetry and drink coffee 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
a herald of nothing wearing a mask of dreams hiding tears of a broken heart riding what looks to be a giant turd doing a turd getting sprayed with a machine gun turret of bird shit, 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
baby on a turtles back unaware of the harsh sun or endless ocean of sadness 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
apex predator catches prey and then what? david attenborough furiously masturbating, hidden by the long grass we have seen this episode and yet we still watch 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
humans given fire to warm their hearts instead burn god to the ground 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
impaled by the elephant in the room under the crescent moon obscured by giant moths is it auspicious? or is each and every day i live full of mishap 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
red boy fights monkey but in this story nothing is left of monkey guanyin ascended long ago 2024
acrylic on polycotton
90.0 × 60.0 cm
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
Jason Phu
blue for the colour of love, yellow for the colour of anger, red for the colour of sadness, white is the void, a milky froth of purgatory, a healthy dose of calcium before your bones turn to dust 2024
earthenware glaze on ceramic plate
27 cm (diameter)
