Originally depicting religious figures, the definition of ‘icon’ has been re-

interpreted through time while the term’s borders become less exact. In

contemporary culture, ‘icon’ covers a wider range of concepts: cult classic

franchises, symbols of identity, gaming and cartoon characters, memes, heirlooms, or even a manifested collective emotion. The fluidity of the term then raises questions about where explorations take place.

Reimaging Icons aims to investigate the relationship between the icon and its environment and how an icon’s power could be affected depending on the amount of acknowledgement and recognition given. The significance of a site-specific icon, at times, can be rendered on both extremes, therefore, the exhibition also questions the necessity of physicality for an ‘icon’: could an ‘icon’ be realized through repeated action? When transferring a strong feeling of faith from one person to another, will the aggregation of powerful beliefs eventually manifest into reality?

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Writing by Nina Wong