“This is an exhibition that I have been planning for a long time,” says Chinese painter He Jia when asked about the new show.

In his first solo exhibition, Carnival: Paintings and Installation by He Jia, the artist will showcase works from 2007 to 2010. “My inspirations come from living life,” he says, “and my main works are oil on canvas. I also have some nonplanar works.” Using bold colors in hyper-realistic depictions of a society drowned by commercialism and consumerism, He Jia's works put audiences into a state of trance: One needs to appreciate the intricacy of his work in order to be fully immersed.

“I feel that I cannot completely describe it, for I can only view circumstances around me,” he says in regards to the message in his work. “But I express my reflections on my social situation through my works,” he adds. Unrelated images of hamburgers, multi-colored pills, zebra and buildings create a sense of total chaos and disorientation as He Jia transposes fantasies and vices in contemporary culture into one beautiful mess.

Carnival: Paintings and Installation by He Jia is on through Sep 12. Art Seasons Gallery, #02-12, Eunos Technolink, 7 Kaki Bukit Rd., 6737-1819. Free.