Social News
Written by: Chen Shuxia
2021-04-23 08:00
Last update date: 2021-04-23 08:00
Art knows no boundaries, why stick to the rules?
The group exhibition "The City of Ink" at the Central Museum of Contemporary Art is open to the public from now (23) to August. The theme is ink painting, including the familiar light box "Ink Treasures" of "Kowloon Emperor" Tseng Tsao Choi, from the street Walk into the atrium of the exhibition and write about the vitality of the grassroots people.
There is also the avant-garde pioneer frog king Guo lashing at the materialistic flow in the city, and there is no shortage of exhibits that touch on political issues. Wandering around the exhibition room, perhaps subverting imagination at any time,
Tobias Berger, the art director and one of the curators of Daguan, said in an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong 01" that a group of artists are based on society and respond to contemporary issues.
As for works involving political themes, he emphasized that Daguan always abides by the law, and even if there are exhibits drawn from the "National Security Law", the content is also positive.
He also said that art works have different interpretation spaces, and some people may insist on misunderstanding, but hope that everyone will be more open-minded when viewing art.
▼Part of the exhibits in Daguan Exhibition "Mo City" take the lead in previewing ▼
The exhibition is divided into two floors. The participating artists are well-known, including Frog King Guo, Lin Dongpeng, Shi Jiahao, Zeng Zaocai (Emperor of Kowloon), etc. All works use ink and wash as the medium, each shining brightly, exploring life in modern cities, especially Hong Kong. The way and political situation changes.
Among them, Chen Fushan's "Illegal Immigration" discusses the tide of smuggling since the 1960s; Zhu Xinghua's "Survival" focuses on the law of survival in the city. Stealing, er, abducting will be punished, but the current law of survival, "Think about it when you have hair." Do dysentery."
The Emperor of Kowloon's calligraphy stands in the atrium of the exhibition
Stepping up the stairs, looking up is to take the avant-garde line, the frog king Guo Menghao's "The Breathing Life Body", disposable takeaway tableware, paper bags falling in the sky, with its unique ink graffiti, straight-line slamming Hong Kong people's desire to consume Excessive.
The most eye-catching and long-lost light box "Calligraphy" by the Emperor of Kowloon stands in the exhibition atrium on the second floor. The grass-roots spirit can also be seen in the elegant hall.
Deng Qiyao's "Victoria Park" depicts Victoria Park as a city landmark with ink and wash, and has experienced the vicissitudes of the present and the past under the precarious wind and rain.
Frog King Guo Menghao's "Breathing Life", with hanging plastic bags, sundries and ink graffiti, has created a dazzling array of "consumption disasters", and I believe it will become a popular check-in spot.
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Tobias Berger, director of art at Daguan, said that Daguan will abide by the law and at the same time maintain artistic autonomy with the professional attitude of an insider.
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Tobias Berger, the director of art and one of the curators of Odate, said that ink painting is regarded as traditional art, but under the artist's interpretation, it can be "very contemporary", including mixing different media, responding to contemporary issues based on society, and through ink painting and the era. Dialogue, while expanding and opening up infinite possibilities.
He also mentioned that the exhibition works are diverse in themes. Among them, gender and eroticism are rarely included in ink art. This curation is just to bring them into the public view, "open for everyone to discuss."
The work echoes the "National Security Law" Curator: Hong Kong spirit can still be seen in the heavy rain
Many works in the exhibition are involved in political issues. Among them, Sun Xun's "Shock Time" refers to the Cultural Revolution with political metaphors.
Tobias stated that the team had already started curating the exhibition before the National Security Law came into effect, and Sun Xun's work was completed as early as 2006.
He mentioned that looking at the audience, Lin Dongpeng's "Plating Shadow" is the only work that echoes the "National Security Law", but its content is positive. The artist is still optimistic about the future of Hong Kong. See the spirit of Hong Kong."
Sun Xun's "Shock Time" explores the mutual struggle between official narratives, memory manipulation, and where the truth is.
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Sun Xun’s "Shock Time" incorporates ink painting into video art. The work directly sketches ink on old newspapers, adds historical symbols such as cement mixers and speakers, and adds animation to the official narrative, memory manipulation and truth. Side-knock.
"Plating" was born on the day when the National Security Act was passed. Lin Dongpeng was performing at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Facing the Victoria Harbour landscape, under continuous drizzle, the city was blurred. He used an ink pen to "carve" the raindrops scattered on the window frames. Fixing the symbol of cleaning and silencer, according to the publication, Lin Dongpeng left a footnote to the future: "No matter how heavy the rain is, I still see Hong Kong in the cracks of the rain."
The light box calligraphy of the Kowloon emperor Zeng Zaocai was loaned for exhibition by Zhang Songren, the collector of the "Father of Chinese Contemporary Art".
Tobias Berger pointed out that the emperor of Kowloon is one of Hong Kong's iconic artistic figures, and is very important to Hong Kong's art history.
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Clearly understand, obey the law, professional attitude and maintain artistic autonomy
Some people and groups of the establishment often "examine" works of art. Tobias believes that the interpretation space of works of art is open, "if you want to interpret anything, you can interpret everything) "If someone misinterprets it, it is the problem. "I hope everyone can be more open-minded."
He emphasized that Daguan clearly understands the need to abide by the law and at the same time maintains artistic autonomy with the professional attitude of an insider.
The "Mo City" group exhibition will be held from now to August 1 at the Tai Kwun Art Party. It is open from 11 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The public can enter the venue for free, and can also make an appointment to participate in guided tours and related public events.
Another group exhibition, "Within a mile, before it starts: Random Gates and Other Footprints", is also not to be missed. It starts with the art historical materials collected by the late sculptor and printmaker Xia Biquan, and eulogizes the audience "archaeology" the past and present of the development of art in Hong Kong .
(Photo by Li Zetong)
Visitors can also visit another group exhibition presented by the Asian Art Archive and curated by Huang Taoting, "Within A Minute, Before You Start: Random Doors and Other Footprints", which uses the late sculptor and printmaker Xia Biquan as a starting point to explore the literature The role of modern art history and cultural discourse.
Admission to the exhibition is also free.
One-day trip to Central and Sheung Wan | Strolling along the Mural Street in Da Kwan, a must-try art check-in cafe to taste Southeast Asian cuisine
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Chen Zhisi talk about heritage conservation Chen Zhisi: Daguan project is the most profound
Daguan anti-epidemic exhibition criticized for advocating "black storm", controversial works are displayed as usual, books are missing
Hong Kong Arts Festival│7 performances in the digital platform of the performing arts at Mixintai Kwan, free online viewing
01News
Odate Culture and Art
