Too familiar to ignore, too different to tolerate

About this book

A picture of red roses indulges in symbolism and cliché. The print is large and probably aspires to be a billboard when it grows up. Next to it, a freshly manicured, white woman's hand with a translucent liquid dripping from it. Honey? Runny honey. Too much? Yes. Looking might arouse the viewer. Does that feel right, though? 'Too Familiar To Ignore, Too Different To Tolerate' by Christian Tunge is comprised of large photographic prints hyper-rich in detail and saturated in symbolism and references to contemporary pop culture and global politics. The same-titled book, launching in conjunction with this exhibition published on the artist?s own imprint, Heavy Books, informs the show with an even deeper dive into said references. Specific attention is given to examining the behavior of honey bees and the structure within the beehive to consider our human condition. Many poignant parallels can be drawn but it is perhaps more interesting to examine our own behavior in reaction to the work ? both on a personal and private level but also collectively while experiencing it in the gallery. The work confronts us with subjects and themes, which are hard to ignore and asks us, in turn, if we can tolerate our own response.