This exhibition features 22 ink paintings by artist Wong Chau Tung, blending Eastern and Western elements to depict Hong Kong’s vibrant urban nightlife and cultural festivals.
In her opening remarks, Artspace K Chairwoman Ms. Chen Guoci reflected on her childhood in Hong Kong, where she never realized the city’s beauty until now, through Wong’s works. While many countries have harbors, Hong Kong’s is uniquely captivating. Despite its bustling nature, Wong’s paintings present a romantic vision of the city. These nightscapes belong not to tourists, but to the people of Hong Kong, and she takes pride in these views. She expressed her joy that this exhibition coincides with the festive atmosphere of Christmas and New Year, offering viewers a seasonal delight.
Artist Wong Chau Tung finds the exhibition title “Glitter” aptly captures Hong Kong’s brilliance and luminosity. Urban ink painting is still a novel concept, and Wong approaches each piece with meticulous care and attention.
The exhibition’s opening also featured remarks from guest artists Wong Hau Kwei, Shen Ping, and Chu Tat Shing. Wong Hau Kwei, a long-time friend of Wong Chau Tung, praised his contributions to traditional ink painting. He noted that although Wong’s urban ink paintings are contemporary, they remain rooted in tradition. Unlike Western plein air methods, Wong uses the Chinese expressive style, internalizing scenes and recreating them from memory. His technique involves conveying cityscapes through the symbolic forms of traditional landscape painting, focusing on the artist’s inner vision rather than literal representation.
Shen Ping shared that artists who migrated from mainland China to Hong Kong often found emotional solace in depicting the city, feeling grateful for its inclusivity. He recognized Wong’s innovative ink techniques, which break traditional boundaries and introduce new artistic language. Each of Wong’s paintings offers a unique perspective on Hong Kong.
Chu Tat Shing emphasized the personal connection needed to paint Hong Kong authentically. As the President of the Chinese Painting Association, Wong Chau Tung, alongside Wong Wuxie, has dedicated himself to preserving and exploring ink painting in Hong Kong, a commitment that deeply moved Chu.
Curator Ms. Li Yuhan mentioned that Wong has spent over three decades developing his unique “urban ink” style, which marries Eastern and Western techniques. His compositions use multiple perspectives to depict the city’s layers and dimensions, capturing its landscapes, people, and environment while maintaining the expressive spirit of Chinese painting. Wong’s technique involves layering light ink washes with colors, creating an impressionistic representation of Hong Kong that blends visual and subconscious impressions.
Wong’s exhibition showcases Victoria Harbour nightscapes, city streets, neon signs, fireworks, and cultural festivities, presenting the ever-changing essence of Hong Kong through ink art. The aim is to evoke an artistic and romantic atmosphere for the audience.
To complement the exhibition, Artspace K is hosting two special events where Wong Chau Tung will demonstrate and share his creative process, focusing on composition, line work, and color in his urban ink style.