Living in the fast-paced, ever-changing Hong Kong, how long has it been since you slowed down and truly felt this place where you and I are every day? Unconsciously, as the years and months pass by, the cityscape changes with different faces, perhaps another scene has already appeared before we realize its transformation. When quietly gazing at this city, one can’t help but wonder, what was Hong Kong like in the past? How should the current scenery be documented? Many Hong Kong artists choose to capture precious glimpses of the city through quick sketch art, showcasing their sketches in the “A New Era: Hong Kong Sketches” exhibition, presenting authentic views and snippets of life in Hong Kong.
“A New Time: Hong Kong Sketches” exhibition is jointly organized by A New Gallery and the Hong Kong Arts Association, co-organized by “Art Hong Kong,” featuring sketches from 40 Hong Kong artists including Tianchi, Wang Qiutong, Lin Tianxing, Hou Shaizheng, Wei Jinmin, Yixing, Chen Keng, and Zhao Zhijun. As the name suggests, sketching refers to a technique where artists use concise lines to capture the essence of the subject in a short period of time, similar to “improvisation,” emphasizing the artist’s keen observation of life, proficient painting skills, and immediate creativity to present a different power and beauty in the work. “A New Time: Hong Kong Sketches” showcases around 120 works created with ink, oil paint, watercolor, and charcoal, covering a wide range of subjects including cityscapes, natural scenery, and vivid character dynamics, allowing you to revisit the old days of Hong Kong and rediscover this place in the present moment.
The bustling streets and towering skyscrapers are iconic features of Hong Kong, and Wang Qiutong presents the image of an international metropolis in ink, conveying a vibrant and lively impression.
The lives of Hong Kong people under the epidemic are also the subject of local artists. For example, Lin Xiaozhi recorded Hong Kong people buying takeout and returning home with quick sketches to reduce dining out. He also depicted Hong Kong people wearing masks, face shields, and protective clothing rushing back to Hong Kong from other places. These scenes witness the daily lives of Hong Kong people during the epidemic.
Let’s now move back in time and reminisce about the old fishing village style of Hong Kong. Wai King Man depicted the stilt houses and boats with a pen, creating a simple and tranquil atmosphere in this painting “Moored”, allowing people to feel a different kind of charm.
Apart from the cityscape of today and yesteryears, what kind of scenery will Hong Kong’s mountains and waters be under the brush of local painters? Why not follow another artist, Tianchi, in his sketch series “Hong Kong Chronicles” to “play in the mountains and waters” together. He uses a dry brush and thick ink to sketch the mountains and waters of Hong Kong, depicting a majestic and broad-minded side, with the addition of Huang Bin Hong’s poetry in the painting, recording the travels of Hong Kong and the New Territories, through the fusion of poetry and ink painting, bringing out an ancient feeling. One of the works even depicts the iconic Lion Rock, which, under Tianchi’s brush, is like a majestic lion. Huang Bin Hong wrote: “It has witnessed the changes in Hong Kong, the face of the people striving for their lives, and has deepened the Hong Kong people’s sense of identity with it, symbolizing the spirit of struggle of the people of Hong Kong.” From the painting and words, the spirit of Lion Rock in Hong Kong leaps off the paper.
“A New Era: Hong Kong Sketches” Exhibition:
Date: From now until August 22 (Free admission)
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm / Sunday, Monday, and Public Holidays: Closed
Location: 4th Floor, SML Building, 165 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
