Alisan Fine Arts presents the works of 15 distinguished Chinese artists from different generations and diverse backgrounds. This exhibition aims to underline the manifold and profound evolution of Chinese art over the past fifty years, by showcasing how each artist reinterpret classical subject-matters of Chinese art by incorporating innovative materials and creative methods while preserving the traditional culture and spirit. To enhance the viewing experience and create an intimate atmosphere, our exhibition will feature a salon-style hanging presentation, encouraging a more immersive and interconnected experience, while allowing viewers to explore the intricate details and connections within the exhibition.
Highlights include Lui Shou-Kwan, Walasse Ting and Chinyee, showcasing the pioneers who pushed the boundaries of Chinese art. For ink master Lui Shou-kwan, we will feature an abstract landscape, demonstrating his artistic prowess in blending Western abstraction with traditional Chinese landscape painting. As for Chinese diaspora artists, we will exhibit a selection of Walasse Ting's renowned vibrant and playful works that exude a zest for life, as well as Chinyee's captivating abstract expressionist painting. Currently, Chinyee’s works are on show in Action, Gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940 – 1970, a touring exhibition that started in London’s Whitechapel, and is now at Van Gogh Foundation in Arles, France, then will eventually end in Kunsthalle Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
Moreover, the exhibition will highlight artists who tirelessly explore and reinterpret centuries-old Chinese art traditions, such as Chu Chu exceptionally blends classical Chinese calligraphy and modern photography to create new artistic expressions. Cherie Cheuk Ka-Wai’s gongbi prowess transcends different cultures. Nobel Laureate Gao Xingjian showcases an introspective and elegant style in his painting. Lin Guocheng depicts a serene and minimalist courtyard in a modern way. Wang Tiande innovatively uses incense sticks as a unique brush to create traditional landscapes. Yang Yongliang's digital cityscapes provide a critical commentary on modern urbanization. Lee Chun-Yi incorporates Chinese seals and ink rubbings to capture the beauty of flowers within a contemporary context. Lastly, we will also have a strong focus on the works of emerging female artists at our booth.
Complementing the exhibition, Alisan Fine Arts will hold Guided Tours on the following dates and timings; to participate, kindly RSVP at assistant@alisan.com.hk
Thursday, 26 October at 5.30pm – 6.00pm
Saturday, 28 October at 11.30am – 12.00pm
Wednesday, 1 November at 2.30pm – 3.00pm
Friday, 3 November at 11.30am – 12.00pm
About the artists
Chinyee (1929-2023) was a Chinese-American artist associated with the New York School of Abstract Expressionism. Her work combined Eastern spirit and Western expression, characterized by gestural brushstrokes and vibrant colours. Her paintings reflected her mood, emotions, and life experiences. Chinyee had a long career of solo and group exhibitions worldwide and her works are collected by private collectors and institutions.
Chu Chu is a versatile artist from China, proficient in ink painting, calligraphy, photography, and oil painting. With a unique artistic language influenced by her diverse academic background, she combines traditional and modern media in her art. Chu Chu has received numerous prestigious awards and her works have been collected internationally, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA.
Cherie Cheuk Ka-wai, born in 1989 in Hong Kong, is a contemporary artist specializing in Chinese Gongbi painting. Her works are filled with symbols and memories inspired by personal experiences and emotions. She aims to rejuvenate the traditional art form of Gongbi in the contemporary world. Cheuk has participated in various exhibitions and exchange programs, receiving recognition and awards for her artistic achievements. Her works can be found in prominent private collections and institutions like the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Gao Xingjian, a distinguished Chinese artist, is globally recognized as a writer and playwright. He became the first Chinese-born writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2000. Gao began painting at a young age and studied painting, sculpture, and calligraphy. His landscapes are renowned for their unique style and ability to convey the ultimate truth of nature. Gao's works have been exhibited internationally and collected by prestigious institutions worldwide.
Gu Gan (1942-2020) was a renowned Chinese artist and considered the forefather of the modern calligraphy movement. He founded the Modernist School of Chinese Calligraphy and incorporated Western media into his works, blending painting and calligraphy. Gu Gan's multi-layered compositions often experiment with the shapes and forms of characters to reinforce their meanings. His works have been collected by prestigious institutions worldwide, including the British Museum, and he was the first Chinese artist to have his painting printed on the Mouton Rothschild wine label.
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. His works have been widely collected by institutions including Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, USA.
Born in 1955, Leng Hong is a celebrated Chinese-French artist known for his textured oil paintings. His works encompass landscapes, still life, and portraits inspired by Tang and Song Dynasties. Trained in both European and traditional Chinese painting techniques, Leng Hong's art combines aesthetic influences from both cultures. His paintings have been exhibited worldwide and are characterized by vibrant colors and a sense of mystery. Leng Hong currently resides in Shanghai, China, and Montreal, Canada.
Lin Guocheng (b. 1979) is an artist known for his unique fusion of Western classical sketches and Chinese ink paintings. In Red Stone and Courtyard 1, 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 inhabit a mysterious dimension. His art creates a mesmerizing dichotomy between the two artistic traditions, resulting in visually captivating compositions.
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 S63-12, depicts mountains and harbour scenes in an abstract manner, reflecting his deep connection with the city. Since 1962, Lui’s works have been extensively exhibited in the UK, with numerous shows at Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Institutions that have collected his works include Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, USA.
Mui Ngo-suet, Charlotte (b. 1996)is an emerging artist who primarily works with watercolours and digital mediums. Her art reflects her personal experiences, visions, and dreams, drawing inspiration from mythologies, art history, theatre, popular culture, and her home. Although Mui did not receive formal art training, she studied English Literature and Art History at the University of Hong Kong. Mui has been painting since childhood and has won numerous international and local awards. In 2020, she created her own deck of Tarot cards, which was acquired by Tate Library in the UK.
Ant Ngai Wing-Lam (b. 1986) is a Hong Kong artist specializing in painting. Her artwork often features human figures with fish heads, inspired by her dreams and surroundings. Growing up in Hong Kong, her paintings frequently depict the city's landscape. Ngai has exhibited her work in various exhibitions and venues, including solo shows such as "Until You Are Here" and "Reading the Time of Fish Man." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from Hong Kong Baptist University and continues to live and work in Hong Kong.
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 Asian Art in London, we will showcase a series of figures and still life objects created by Ting.
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 works shown at Asian Art in London, Aquarius and Peach Garden, 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 Tiande, born in Shanghai in 1960, is an innovative avant-garde ink artist known for his use of incense sticks as a form of brush. His transformative approach combines traditional Chinese painting techniques with burn marks on layered rice paper, creating ephemeral landscapes and calligraphy. Wang has gained international recognition and exhibited his works worldwide, including at prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Yang Yongliang, born in Shanghai in 1980, is a renowned artist known for his poetic digital Chinese landscapes that reimagine traditional landscape paintings. His works feature intricate compositions of urban imagery, blending traditional Chinese painting techniques with contemporary digital art. Yang has exhibited internationally and his works are held in prestigious collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and British Museum.
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 her works, 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.
