The Hartz Project is pleased to present The Fantasy Store: Indulgence, Relief and Riches, a solo exhibition by Hugh Leung, on view at chi K11 art museum in Shanghai from April 3 to April 22, 2025. The Fantasy Store offers a fictional journey into the exploration and fulfilment of inner desires, showcasing over twenty works from the artist’s various series. This exhibition thoughtfully investigates the complex nature of desire and its profound ties to consumer culture.
In this unique space, visitors are invited to engage with a diverse array of products, including cigarettes, luxury goods, and even currency, each serving as a reflection of not just material consumption but also the deeper aspects of human longing. The presence of a bank within the store is conceptually intended to facilitate the financial realization of these desires. Here, visitors experience a distinctive interaction, embodying the roles of both consumers and explorers. This dual perspective allows individuals to immerse themselves in a material world while simultaneously reflecting on their fundamental needs and aspirations. Each choice transforms into a form of self-inquiry, prompting us to consider whether we are acquiring simple objects or pursuing profound emotional and psychological fulfilment. The interplay between desire and consumption is intricate and multifaceted, often oscillating between indulgence and therapeutic relief. It can provide pleasure while also inciting anxiety. Leung navigates this tension, highlighting both the allure of consumption and its potential pitfalls, encouraging viewers to enjoy materiality while confronting their inner conflicts.
At the journey's conclusion, visitors will encounter an automated teller machine (ATM) that challenges conventional notions of money. Instead of dispensing cash, it produces an endless stream of receipts, serving as a tangible record of the entire experience. This encourages visitors to engage in a deeper reflection on their desires within the context of consumerism.