Exploring East and West Fusion in Art This Month
Canton Modern
Exhibiting at M+ Museum, Canton Modern spotlights Cantonese artists from the 20th Century and tracks their distinct style of realism. Influenced by the revolutionary environment of Canton and international methods, the artists in this region broke away from traditional ink painting early on. They depicted life, war and the harsh realities of living in this region through the civil war and poverty. The exhibition also traces how Hong Kong and Canton art developed after the revolution—parallel but different, expertly combining Cantonese art and history.
Showing from 28 June to 5 October at M+
Eying East, Wondering West — Square Word Calligraphy Classroom
This exhibition is an interactive exhibition that invites visitors to write in Xu Bing’s distinctive calligraphy style. Written in English, but devised to look like Chinese characters, his alphabet seamlessly blends East and West. The exhibition is separated into three parts: “appreciation”, “learning”, “application”, where visitors will get to learn how to write square calligraphy and then create their own characters. It’s the perfect family-friendly exhibition.
Showing from 3 June to 30 July at HKMOA
On Kawara: Freedom of Rules, Rules of Freedom
Kawara marked his existence through the systematic documentation of his daily life. Through postcards, telegrams, maps, and more, his stark methods in a time before digital means remains very relevant. This exhibition is the artist’s first solo exhibition since his passing and features over six of his iconic series. Kawara documented every moment of his life while grappling with questions of time and existence, offering insight into his process.
Showing from 23 May to 17 August at JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun
Lee Ungno & Park In-kyung: Artistic Companions in Life
Commemorating artists Lee Ungno and Park In-kyung, Korean artists and couple, this exhibition aims to show the commonalities between their art. Lee was part of the first generation of abstract Korean artists, having trained in Korea and Japan, and later moving to France. He was the artist that never stopped creating, even when he was in prison. Park In-kyung, already a top student when she met her husband, was influenced by Lee’s work to push the bounds of traditional Korean art. The couple pioneered the study of East Asian art and techniques in the West after moving to Paris. Park has continued to produce new work since her husband’s passing. The exhibition showcases Lee’s iconic People series, and Park’s recent ink-wash abstraction as well her older pointillisms.
Showing from 5 June to 2 August at the Korean Cultural Centre in Hong Kong, PMQ
Through Time—Print Art in Aberdeen Street
Explore the history of Chinese type-casting in the 19th century. Although printing technology has had a long history in China, it was type casting, whereby individual letters are created, that revolutionised the letterpress industry. Along the streets of Central and Sheung Wan, Hong Kong played a major role in these developments. This exhibition features old printing press technology, photos, letters, and works created by this technology. You can also sign up for a guided tour and letterpress experience.
Showing from 22 February to 31 August at Print Art Contemporary, PMQ
