Before retiring, the famous Hong Kong artist Chu Hing-wah was a psychiatric nurse. After retiring in 1992, he devoted himself fully to art creation. His early works were mostly small in size, often using dark tones to depict lonely figures, portraying the loneliness and melancholy he experienced from patients. Later, he extended his creative themes to visible small figures or urban scenery in life, bringing forth ink works that are simple and sincere, deeply loved by the public.
Recently, this reclusive artist finally held a solo exhibition “Zhu Xinghua: Childlike Me” at Hanart, showcasing ink works spanning from 2016 to 2020. In addition to his iconic “Urban Figures” and “Floral” series, he also presented works themed around the “Body” for the first time.
Zhu Xinghua’s paintings use a technique of layering ink and colors to express his concern for human affairs. His daily creations are inspired by familiar scenes and settings in Hong Kong, piecing together his nostalgia for old Hong Kong through clever use of color and simple composition. In this exhibition, we can see new works such as “Tin Hau Temple,” “Pokfulam Village,” “Pottinger Street,” “Overhead Bridges,” and “Footbridge,” bringing familiar scenes to life.
In the “Flowers” series, “Home Flowers and Wild Flowers 1” and “Home Flowers and Wild Flowers 2” highlight the graceful posture of the flowers themselves through several bright and high-contrast colors. In the debut “Body” series, all the figures in the paintings are naked, whether it is “Washing White” depicting the relationship between mother and child, or “Lovers” portraying the subtle emotions between men and women, the artist directly traces back to the most naked and sincere relationships between people.
These works are full of the vitality of the city, the sincerity of the characters, showing Zhu Xinghua’s passion and concern for human life. You may as well visit the exhibition in person and feel the creative power!
“Zhu Xinghua: Red Child and I” Exhibition
Date: From now until November 5, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (Monday to Saturday)
Location: Hanart TZ Gallery, 2/F, Mei Ah Industrial Building, 17-21 Kung Yip Street, Kwai Hing, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: Hanart
