Micke Tong
DRAW FLOW: 20 Select Drawings
May 23 - June 2

Keystone Gallery is pleased to unveil "Draw Flow" by Micke Tong, a compelling exhibition featuring a curated selection of 20 black ink brush drawings from the artist's esteemed archive spanning the years 2020 to 2023. Each artwork will be thoughtfully accompanied by video documentation, offering attendees a comprehensive insight into the creative process behind every framed piece. The exhibit will be on view from May 23 through June 2, 2024 with a soft reception taking place Thursday, May 23 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm and artist talk closing event on Saturday, June 1 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

In 2020 the world was in a flux and had shutdown due to unforeseen forces. The air of uncertainty left the artist to minimize his practice after shutting the doors to his studio, not knowing when he would be able to return. The artist states, “I had chosen to reduce my practice to where it all started, the fundamental act of drawing.” What was once a game of drawing between friends had become the genesis of a creative therapy. The game, Scribble, is what it was called in his social circle, although it is quite plausible that the game has taken many forms and received an array of titles.

1.Scribble has two participants. The first person begins an  unmethodical line drawing until the other person tells them to stop.

2. The drawing is then given to the person who commanded the stop to complete.

3. That line drawing now has to be made into something representational or at least a familiar image is encouraged to emerge.

With a similar method, Tong starts all of his Draw Flows with a random line drawing and/or simple shapes. His drawings take form with a black ink brush pen and 14x17 inch paper. The ritual is then initiated with a breathing exercise and some choice music. Each drawing takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. The idea is to try and reach a heightened state of consciousness and to complete a drawing with ease and uninterrupted flow. A successful drawing often has a unifying perspective. Although, not all attempts are triumphant, often times Tong has to push through to finish, other times he stumbles and fails leading to an abandoned work of art. What makes these works unique is its individual documentation. Each framed drawing is paired with a QR code that leads to a time-lapse video posted on YouTube. This digital archive ensures a lasting legacy for each piece, affording collectors the opportunity to trace its origins and revisit the creative process at their leisure.