HONG KONG.- Poly Auction Limited, together with Soka Art Center, are holding “Aspiration - Hong Ling Solo Exhibitions” by renowned artist Hong Ling, at Poly (Hong Kong) Gallery during 15 - 22 May. Curated by Dr. Xia Kejun, the exhibition features 14 artworks by the artist, introducing the traditional concept of “scene” in contemporary Chinese art.
Hong Ling had spent over 20 years in Mount Huang, and in his works, we can see the fusion between his rich inner mind and the mysteries of the natural landscape. “First, establish its greatness.” Hong Ling has consciously brought the “spirit” of Shanshui painting into landscape painting. When we look at Hong Ling’s works, we see on one hand what appear to be traditional colored shanshui paintings, but they are also richer than traditional art, with the turquoise, sage green, and dark dreen of the image also incorporating the colors of oil painting and interacting with the natural scenery to be formed. On the other hand, his works has enriched the colors of Western oil painting, because it looks more natural, infusing his colors with a sense of time, making them more natural and rhythmic.
Hong Ling’s works retain the trace images of the natural world from that state of “semblance and non-semblance” found in Chinese art. Hollow traces of natural semblance remain, continuously enriched with color, so that subtle shifts in color take on the beauty of breath. Sometimes they are also obscured by large swaths of qi, which come together with drips of paint to create an overall vaporous atmosphere. When the painting is covered in snowflakes, the overall work becomes shrouded in in a cold air, dense and solemn.
Mr. Alex Chang, Managing Director of Poly HK, said “Established since 2012, Poly Gallery has been dedicated in hosting a variety of exhibitions and cultural events. It has been our pleasure to cooperate with Soka Art Center this time, bringing the exquisite works by Hong Ling. Poly HK will continue to bring cooperate with galleries and organizations around the world, establishing as a leading art platform in Asia.”
Hong Ling is currently the Vice professor of the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and a member of China Artists Association. He graduated from the Art Department of Beijing Normal University in 1979, and completed the graduate program at the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1987.
Hong Ling’s work is a link between past and future— he breaks away from the traditional concept of “scene” to start from painting realistically through abstract rendition to imagery and spiritual representation. Under his artistic brush, traditional Chinese painting and oil painting are harmonized across culture, while the fullness of oil paints is blended with the spirit and flow valued in Chinese painting to create a scene of utter purity and vigor. A contextual shift between East and West requires extraordinary courage and sensibility in addition to a solid cultural and artistic foundation; the courage to shake off the constraint of Western techniques is equally important as the effort to explore deep into the fundamental spirit of traditional Eastern culture. By reproducing the spirit of Chinese landscape with the use of oil paints as medium, Hong established a connection between East and West, tradition and innovation. Apart from being a realization of Hong’s artistic aspiration and pursuit of self-recognition, it is also a milestone for contemporary Chinese art as Chinese artist made a successful attempt to modernize traditional spirit by introducing it to today’s society.
Hong Ling’s works has been exhibiting around the world, such as Hong Kong, Belgium, France, Singapore, Italy, and Korea, as well as important exhibitions held in Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. He had also held joint exhibition with Zao Wou-ki and Zhu The-Chun.
