Roundup: Contemporary Ink in Hong Kong

A medium charged with centuries worth of Chinese art history, ink has been the literati’s vehicle of aesthetic and philosophical expression. In calligraphy and painting, the medium has been applied in myriad ways to myriad effects. The issue of “contemporary ink,” therefore, has plagued artists in recent times and many have endeavored to proffer their resolutions for the genre. Its resurgence in the past few years—fortunately or unfortunately—has much to do with the West’s burgeoning interest for the genre, in the form of institutional exhibitions at premier museums as well as selling shows at galleries and auction houses.

Finally receiving a significant level of enthusiasm from international audiences and collectors, galleries in Hong Kong have responded with solo and group shows featuring contemporary ink artists. ArtAsiaPacific recently went about town and took a look at some of these efforts.

Beijing-based Wei Ligang was in Hong Kong during mid-March and performed a demonstration at the booth of the local Alisan Fine Art during the city’s iteration of Art Basel. A solo exhibition of his work is currently on show at Alisan’s permanent space in Aberdeen. Trained originally as a mathematician, Wei eventually switched to a practice of wielding ink and acrylic to create abstract compositions formally rooted in calligraphy. Working always in an environment of absolute silence, the artist believes in painting with a swift hand in order to best transfer his emotions and thoughts directly onto the paper.

At Hanart TZ Gallery, a solo show of Shanghai-born Xu Longsen comprises a diverse selection of paintings, both large and small. Intimate works depicting hilly vistas and set in antiquated frames offer a quiet view into the past. Monumental scrolls that span the wall or touch the ceiling show compositions that suggest rock formations or a mountain range. Xu’s work can also be seen in a special group exhibition, curated by Hong Kong architect and collector William Lim, entitled “Be Inspired,” at Landmark in Central. The selection there includes Xu’s monumental work Celestial Shore (2011). 

“Perfection by Chance – A Yi Pai Series Exhibition” is a group exhibition curated by noted Chinese contemporary art scholar, professor, critic, curator and author Gao Minglu at Pearl Lam’s Pedder Building space. In his 2009 book Yi Pai: A Synthetic Theory Against Representation, Gao posits that contemporary Chinese art is a unique understanding (and subversion) of modern and postmodern art and cultural theory from the West. Ink artists in the show include Qin Yufen and Yang Zhilin, whose abstractions are spontaneous intersections between consciousness and intention.

“Xu Longsen” is on view at Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong, until March 28, 2015.

 “Wei’s Ink Garden: New Works by Wei Ligang” is on view at Alisan Fine Art, Hong Kong, until April 18, 2015.

 “Perfection by Chance – A Yi Pai Series Exhibition” is on view at Pearl Lam Galleries (Pedder Building), Hong Kong, until May 10, 2015.