D Hwang, 49 surface, oil and acrylic on canvas, 161.5x130cm, 2017

“abstrough”—a portmanteau of “abstract” and “rough”—is more than a visual style; it is a profound philosophical stance by artist D Hwang. The exhibition confronts the inevitable human conditions of solitude, decay, and the relentless passage of time. Rather than averting its gaze from the weathered and the broken, the work directly engages with the coarse, imperfect states of existence, revealing the raw essence of a world that is constantly fading.

The exhibition is structurally bifurcated across two floors to create a dialogue between materiality and imagery. On the first floor, the “abstrough concept shop” presents an immersive installation of the artist’s personal belongings—worn shoes, aged clothing, and mechanical motorcycle parts. These objects, once defined by their utility, have been transformed into artistic artifacts through the accumulation of time and minimal artistic intervention. They no longer serve a function but instead generate a unique atmosphere where the familiar and the alien intersect within the pristine gallery space.

In contrast, the basement floor transitions into a realm of condensed reflection through D Hwang’s paintings. While the upper floor captures the physical traces of wear and tear, the paintings serve as surfaces where the essence of those materials and experiences is distilled into a singular image. Together, these works do not present a finished result but a cross-section of a world in transition. Visitors are invited to witness the very process of disappearance, discovering that vanishing itself can exist as a powerful form of beauty.