SPECIAL EVENTS
Lecture: "Summoning Memories: Ink Art Beyond Chinese Traditions" by Dr. Susan L. Beningson, Independent curator & Professor of Asian Art History, New York University 6 Oct, 5:00pm-6:00pm, INK ASIA lecture hall, Hall 3C
Tram Project: The image of Wang Mengsha’s paintings, As One Wishes 2 and As One Wishes 3, have been selected to promote Ink Asia on the HK Trams.
Public Installation: Booth K2 featuring Kan Tai Keung's In Woods and Mountains & Danny Lee Chin Fai's Landscape Installation
Founded in 1981, Alisan Fine Arts (AFA) has been at the forefront of promoting contemporary ink art locally and internationally, as well as championing female artists, be they emerging or established. To showcase the variety and depth of ink painting, this year’s booth showcases the works of 22 ink artists with a heavy emphasis on female artists, including Fang Zhaoling, and Irene Chou, early female pioneers in the ink movement. With these artists mostly coming from Hong Kong and China, Alisan Fine Arts exemplifies the cultural connection between the entrepot and its motherland. Together, these artists represent the enduring spirit and ever-evolving nature of ink art. Their works, while diverse in style and approach, are united in their reverence for tradition and their pursuit of innovation. They remind us that the essence of Chinese ink painting is not static but is a living, breathing entity, evolving with time yet rooted in centuries-old traditions.
Artist Bio:
Artists from Hong Kong, China
Irene Chou (1924- 2011), a key figure of the New Ink Art Movement, brings forth the dynamic energy of the one-stroke technique. Her abstract paintings, influenced by Zen and Taoism, are a prime example of the power of simplicity and the profound depth of Chinese artistic philosophy. In The Universe is Mind, Chou deployed her signature one-stroke technique to create this artwork, which embodies her dynamic, abstract painting style.
Fan Yan, a Beijing-born artist, grew up in a family of musicians and received classical training as a violinist and viola player. After spending 20 years playing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Fan Yan decided to dedicate herself to painting in 2011, realizing her lifelong dream. In Mist in Dark Green, Fan Yan incorporates her musical background by folding and dyeing rice paper, creating patterns reminiscent of rhythms and beats. Through this experimental approach, she explores the interpretation of various musical elements using a unique visual language.
Fang Zhaoling, a prominent artist in Chinese ink art, was born in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, in 1914 and passed away in 2006. With a background in Chinese calligraphy, Fang Zhaoling developed a deep passion for painting at a young age. She honed her skills under the tutelage of renowned artists such as Chen Jiucun, Qian Songyan, Zhao Shao'ang, and Zhang Daqian. She embraced the freestyle approach of Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi, incorporating their techniques into her own works. Her artistry blended traditional Chinese ink techniques with her own contemporary interpretations, creating a unique and captivating aesthetic. At Ink Asia, we will present a landscape scroll created by Fang in 1986.
Hui Hoi-Kiu, Angel (b. 1990) is an emerging artist from Hong Kong, known for her captivating ink work on tissue paper and more recently on cermamic. She explores the beauty of everyday objects by incorporating traditional art forms and common materials into her artworks: in her series of My Little Paris in Blue, Angel depicts mundane French patisserie, wine and other paraphernalia in blue Chinese pigments, mimicking the ceramic artworks from Yuan and Ming dynasty.
Drawing inspiration from the spirit of Chinese ink art, renowned sculptor, Danny Lee Chin-Fai, creates artworks that reflect the essence of "Mountains and Streams," embodying the beauty of Eastern culture through poetic expressions. Lee combines traditional Chinese ink techniques with contemporary sculptural adaptations, infusing his works with elements of playfulness that contribute to his distinct artistic language, as seen in Mountain and Streams in Sculpture.
Under the guidance of established artists and art critics, acclaimed artist, Eddie Lui (b. 1947) has developed a deep understanding of the contemporary ink movement, which played a pivotal role in shaping his unique direction in contemporary ink culture. In his series of works of fruits and animal, he captures the essence of these natural elements with great attention to detail, using the gongbi technique to create intricate brushwork and delicate renditions, whilst in City within City, Lui reproduces a photograph of Lion Rock with calligraphic stele and textural superimposition to capture the nostalgia of the city in around a decade ago.
Lui Shou-Kwan (1919-1975) was a pioneering figure in the New Ink Movement and a significant influence on contemporary Chinese art. His unique artistic practice blended classical Chinese painting techniques with elements of Zen philosophy and symbolism. Lui's semi-abstract landscape work, Abstract Landscape S62-41, depicts mountains and harbour scenes in an abstract manner, reflecting his deep connection with the city, whilst his signature Zen Painting 1970 moves one step further and blurs the imagery with lush ink wash and colour, creating a poetic and meditative that transcends time and culture.
Winnie Mak is a Hong Kong-born artist known for her contemporary ink paintings. After studying western art and ink painting in Canada, Mak returned to Hong Kong in 1994 and established her own studio to teach art and promote contemporary ink painting. In her artwork Green Coral, Mak depicts the idyllic serenity through her delicate balance between traditional ink techniques and modern aesthetics.
Man Fung-Yi (b. 1968) is a prominent artist in Hong Kong's contemporary art scene, known for her expertise in sculpture and ink installation. Born in 1968, she gained recognition for her captivating "Cheongsam" sculpture series, which was exhibited at prestigious venues such as Louis Vuitton in Taipei, Hong Kong, and Singapore between 2012 and 2014. Man Fung-Yi's artistic practice explores the intersection of tradition and contemporary themes, often incorporating elements of Buddhism and symbolism. Her Heartfelt Love 5, with two identical calabashes made up of two different materials, evokes viewers to contemplate the relationship between perception and interpretation, and subjectivity and truth. Her work is currently on display at the Hong Kong International airport.
Kan Tai-Keung (b. 1942) is a renowned Hong Kong-based artist and graphic designer known for his mastery of ink painting. Influenced by his mentor Lui Shou-kwan, Kan Tai-Keung is a prominent figure in the "New Ink Painting Movement" and is recognized as one of the most representative contemporary ink painters in Hong Kong. His artistic practice draws inspiration from traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, incorporating cursive scripts and elements of graphic design into his works, as illustrated in his work, In Woods and Mountains. His practice is also exhibited in his series of landscape works shown at the booth, where Kan depicts natural elements such as pine trees, mountains, clouds, and flowing water.
Artists from China
Chu Chu (b. 1975) is a versatile artist known for her expertise in ink painting, calligraphy, photography, and oil painting. With a diverse academic background spanning traditional and modern media, Chu Chu has developed a unique artistic language that combines ink painting with photography and calligraphy. In Cities-Ode to the West Wind, the artist fuses ancient Chinese techniques with contemporary mediums, such as photography and acrylic, resulting in visually captivating and thought-provoking creations.
Gu Gan is hailed as the forefather of the modern calligraphy movement and the founder of the Modernist School of Chinese Calligraphy. Born in Changsha, China in 1942 and passing away in 2020, Gu Gan revolutionized the art of calligraphy by incorporating Western media and techniques into his works. In Two Horses in Love among the Trees with the Moon above, Gu created a multi-layered compositions where the title reveals the theme, and the thematic word or phrase becomes an integral part of the artwork. The artist experimented with the shapes and forms of Chinese characters, blending or separating them to enhance their meanings.
Lin Guocheng (b. 1979) is an artist known for his unique fusion of Western classical sketches and Chinese ink paintings. In From the Beginning to the End, the artist depicts traditional courtyards and landscapes using a captivating blend of Western perspective and Chinese artistic traditions, featuring swirling thin lines that evoke floating clouds and mist, while scholar rocks and trees inhabiting in a mysterious dimension. His art creates a mesmerizing dichotomy between the two artistic traditions, resulting in visually captivating compositions.
Wang Mengsha, a Chinese artist born in 1982 in Wuxi, Jiangsu, is known for her unique artistic style that combines Chinese court paintings with landscape elements. Characterized by her distinct "Xieyi" style, her pair of works shown at Ink Asia 2023, As One Wishes 2 and As One Wishes 3 exhibit a playful sense of humour and vibrant colours reminiscent of the renowned artist Walasse Ting, whilst depicting scenes that are generally of interest to traditional Chinese literati. Wang’s work will also feature in the Ink Asia Tram Project during the time of the fair.
Born in 1960, Wang Tiande is an avant-garde ink artist from Shanghai, China. He is known for his innovative use of incense sticks as a brush and his exploration of the ephemeral quality of painting. Wang's work transforms traditional landscapes and calligraphy through the use of burn marks on layered rice paper, as shown in Mountain Dwelling. His art has gained international recognition and has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Wei Ligang (b. 1964) 's mathematical precision and innovative approach to calligraphy have led to the creation of his iconic "Wei squares." These abstract forms, while pushing the boundaries of calligraphy, remain anchored in Chinese culture. In his works, Tea Ceremony in the Nature, the artist experiments with ink and acrylic to showcase his commitment to bridging the divide between avant-garde calligraphy and Western art forms.
Emerging artist, Zhang Xiaoli (b. 1989) stands out with her unique approach to blending tradition with contemporary themes. Her works, from replacing elements in Chinese landscape painting with Lego bricks to presenting surreal landscapes inside small containers, offer a fresh and innovative perspective on Chinese art, as illustrated in her work Golden Pine and Recombined Landscape 1 & 2. Zhang's artistic exploration and her incorporation of diverse fields like astronomy and biology into her art showcase her versatility and the boundless potential of the next generation of Chinese artists.
While her academic pursuits were rooted in ink and figure painting, Zhang Ying (b. 1969)'s soul was irresistibly drawn to the ethereal and profound depths of the Chinese landscape painting tradition. In Grain Buds and The Pine Pavilion 1 and 2, there is a palpable sense of meditation and contemplation, intertwined with historical architecture. Each painting, complemented by its poetic title, is an invitation to the viewer to embark on a spiritual odyssey, to reflect, and to find connections between the tangible world and the intangible realms of thought and emotion.
Zhang Yirong (b. 1979) is a Chinese artist known for her meticulous ink paintings. Trained in classical Chinese ink painting from a young age, she has developed a unique style characterized by intricate details and a feminine sensitivity. Zhang draws inspiration from the Song and Yuan Dynasties, particularly the tradition of direct observation. Typically, her Gorgeous Epiphyllums and Resembling Delicate and Fragrant Smoke feature flowers that reflect perfected beauty. With a deep appreciation for traditional techniques and a commitment to capturing natural subjects, Zhang Yirong's ink paintings showcase her talent and artistic vision.
Overseas Artists
Lee Chun-Yi, a cosmopolitan Taiwanese artist, is known for his innovative approach to ink painting. Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1965, Lee moved to Hong Kong at a young age and later studied under the renowned master Liu Kuo-sung at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Departing from traditional brush techniques, Lee incorporates calligraphy and landscape through the use of Chinese seals and ink rubbings, as shown in his artwork Rock, Time and World.
Walasse Ting (1928-2010)'s vibrant depictions of life, from sultry women to the natural world, are a celebration of colour and emotion. Having been influenced by both the European avant-garde and American Abstract Expressionism, Ting's works are a harmonious blend of East and West, traditional and modern. At Ink Asia 2023, we will showcase a series of figures and still life objects created by Ting.
Zheng Chongbin, a diaspora artist born in Shanghai in 1961, is renowned for his monumental artworks that seamlessly blend Chinese ink, Western art, and new media, exploring the concepts of light, space, perspectives, and the agency of materials. In Plateau, the artist once again allows different materials to run freely on paper to react spontaneously to create resulting patterns that mimic nature that is around us, bringing an alternative and abstract meaning to classical ink paintings.
