Giant inflatable lobster sculpture makes debut at Hong Kong’s Lee Tung Avenue

A six-meters wide and five-meters tall inflatable sculpture of a lobster has appeared at trendy retail area, Lee Tung Avenue. Titled (appropriately) “The Lobster”, it’s the debut of the piece by renowned British pop art artist Philip Colbert, as his very first public art display in Hong Kong promoting his first solo exhibition titled “Lobster Land”, which is currently on display until 28 June atWhitestone Gallery Hong Kong.Born in Scotland and living and working in London, Colbert has created a global following for his cartoon lobster persona and his masterful hyper-pop history paintings. His work explores the patterns of contemporary digital culture and its relationship to a deeper art historical dialogue. Colbert once said, “I became an artist when I became a Lobster”.“Surrealist artists and poets such as Salvador Dali used the lobster image lots in surrealist work. The lobster became a soft it symbol for surrealism. I took this symbol and took it to the next level by becoming a lobster and evolving the spirit of Surrealism today. I also become very red under the sun like the lobster; I only wear red socks; I don’t eat lobsters, I am a lobster,” said Colbert. “I am really excited to be doing my first solo show in Hong Kong with Whitestone. Over the past few years I have been so inspired to spend time here”, said Colbert. “The paintings and sculptures in the show are from a new series of Lobster Land hunt paintings I have been working on, where I have developed a new hyper-real abstract aesthetic and this is the first exhibition of these new works.”He added, “‘The Lobster’ Inflatable Sculpture is my artistic persona, so the idea of me coming to Hong Kong for my first solo show, makes sense that my Lobster Self should be seen in the streets, larger than life, my work is all about bringing a sense of creative fantasy and freedom back into reality.”Colbert’s work has received international acclaim from museums and galleries worldwide for his energetic and refreshing approach to painting and pop theory. Colbert is often hailed as the “godson of Andy Warhol” and has been championed as a contemporary pop master by prominent art world figures such as Charles Saatchi and Simon De Pury.