Guided Viewing of 2 Exhibitions: "Momentous Mountains: The Artistic, Philosophical and Cultural Engagement with Chinese Landscape Painting with Dr. Shou Hua and Abstract Evolutions: Sixty Years of Paintings by Fong Chung-Ray with Dr. Sarah Ng at UMAG (Members Only)
The HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a guided viewing of 2 exhibitions at UMAG: Momentous Mountains: The Artistic, Philosophical and Cultural Engagement with Chinese Landscape Painting with Dr. Shou Hua, Associate Curator at UMAG and Abstract Evolutions: Sixty Years of Paintings by Fong Chung-Ray with Dr. Sarah Ng, Curator at UMAG
The first exhibition Momentous Mountains invites visitors to immerse themselves in the captivating world of Chinese landscape paintings from the collection of the UMAG, HKU. This series of paintings spans from the early Qing dynasty (17th century) to contemporary times, representing the depth and virtuosity of the development of Chinese landscape paintings, extending from the orthodox Four Wang Masters of the early Qing, the Nanjing School, the Jiangxi School and the Shanghai School of Chinese paintings. Rarely displayed in public, the paintings include iconic works by renowned 20th-century masters and influential art educators—such as Liu Haisu (1896-1994), Fang Zhaoling (1914–2006), Wan Qingli (1945–2017) and Wesley Tongson (1957- 2012)—and other outstanding contemporary artists who trained in the leading Eastern and Western art academies.
The second exhibition Abstract Evolutions: Sixty Years of Paintings by Fong Chung-Ray, a distinguished Chinese American painter who is best known for his unique abstract art style, one which explores new directions for Chinese paintings. Fong was born in Henan province and he received his formal art training at the Cadre College of Arts and Crafts in Taiwan. The significance of Fong Chung-ray’s artistic oeuvre lies in his contribution both to the global art scene and the representation of Chinese artistic traditions in late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century California. As an ambassador for art, he has played a crucial role in fostering cultural exchange between China and the West, and his artworks have introduced richly diverse artistic traditions, techniques and themes to international audiences, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.
Speakers
Dr. Shou Hua received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Hong Kong. She was a visiting PhD fellow at the Cluster of Global Art History, University of Heidelberg. Her research centres on modern East Asian paintings, art market studies and exhibition history in a cross-cultural context.
Dr. Sarah Ng is a historian of visual arts and material culture specializing in late imperial Chinese painting, calligraphy and ink rubbings. She is the curator of the Hong Kong University Museum & Art Gallery (UMAG). The relationship and reinterpretation of the Chinese tradition in contemporary art practice is her primary area of scholarly interest. Her work also addresses collecting, connoisseurship, canon formation, workshop practices, art conservation, museum studies and bookplates. She lectures on these subjects and other areas of expertise internationally.
Image Credit: Courtesy of UMAG
Summer Mountains WAN Qingli (1945–2017) 1995 L 90.5 x W 175 cm Ink and colour on paper Gift of WAN Qingli HKU.P.2002.1451
Fong Chung-Ray 1983-4 Acrylic on Canvas 91×121.5