Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present In The Middle of Things, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Los Angeles-based artist Adrian Kay Wong. Known for his contemplative depictions of everyday life, Wong creates carefully composed scenes that linger in the space between observation and memory, examining the subtle tensions that shape our daily experiences.

For In The Middle of Things, Wong turns his attention toward the quiet moments that often go unnoticed amidst the rhythms of everyday life. Rather than depicting decisive actions or clear narratives, the paintings embrace uncertainty, inviting viewers to dwell in the possibilities that exist between what has happened and what may come next.

The exhibition title references the literary term in media res, a storytelling technique in which a narrative begins in the middle of the action. Figures appear suspended within stories, caught in moments that feel both deeply personal and universally familiar. A sweater hovers between being put on and taken off. A figure stands at the edge of a pool. Gestures, glances, and shadows suggest narratives that remain intentionally unresolved.

Drawing inspiration from traditional East Asian garden design and its emphasis on perspective, framing, and contemplation, Wong approaches composition as a means of guiding attention. Windows, architectural forms, shadows, and carefully orchestrated sightlines encourage viewers to move through each painting slowly, exploring the idea that emptiness is not an absence but a presence unto itself.

With In The Middle of Things, Wong invites us to slow down and pay closer attention to the moments that exist between beginnings and endings. At the heart of the exhibition is an interest in how we move through the world: how we navigate uncertainty, construct meaning, reflecting the complexity of everyday life itself.

54 Ludlow St Map
917-265-8553