About

Kate Beynon draws on multiple visual traditions as the foundation for her artworks, including Western and Eastern comic books, mythology, animation, film, graffiti, calligraphy and fashion.

In 'Friendly Beasts', Kate Beynon brings to life four hybrid characters who are inspired by mythological figures, deities, theatrical masks and supernatural creatures. Young visitors will meet these benevolent friends - Blue Shaman, Lotus Monkey, Tu-Dao Dog and Gorgon Girl - who each have their own traits and personalities and aim to promote imagination, creative expression and fun.

Children and families can engage with the Friendly Beasts through interactive activities, which include creating a new 'beast' identity by combining character features as part of a mask-making activity, dancing with the beasts in the artist's video installation Visions from a Ghost Tale / Friendly Beasts edit 2017, and contributing to the beasts' magical world in the collaborative drawing activity The Lotus Garden.

MEET THE FRIENDLY BEASTS

Kate Beynon's four mythical characters called the 'Friendly Beasts' - Blue Shaman, Lotus Monkey, Tu-Dao Dog and Gorgon Girl - will accompany visitors as they journey through the exhibition.

In this space, children can find out what makes each character unique by reading about them and experiencing their musical rhythms.

BEAST REMIX

The Friendly Beasts' physical appearance reflects who they are on the inside. In Beast Remix, children can discover their inner beast by combining their characteristics to create their own mask.

Visitors are also invited to take their mask and dance with the Friendly Beasts in the artist's video installation Visions from a Ghost Tale / Friendly Beasts edit 2017.

THE LOTUS GARDEN

As part of the exhibition, the artist has created a lotus field for the Friendly Beats to live in. Children will be inspired by shapes that make up the lotus plant and add their own designs to the collaboration drawing sheets in the space.

This space is watched over by Kwan Yin in the form of a large-scale reproduction of the artist's 2017 work, Rose of Evening / Spirit of Kwan Yin in the Lotus Field. In Chinese culture, Kwan Yin is the Bodhisattva (Goddess) of mercy, compassion and kindness.

Rose of Evening / Spirit of Kwan Yin in the Lotus Field is based on an image from Kate Beynon's series 'An-Li: A Chinese Ghost Tale' 2015. The publication An-Li: A Chinese Ghost Tale (2015), published by ARTAND Foundation, presents a stunning new body of work by Kate Beynon.