Nurturing Creativity – Exhibition and Auction for the 35th Anniversary of Friends of Art Museum CUHK
Venue: Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong
Exhibition Period: 19 Sept - 7 Oct 2016
NUTURING CREATIVITY
One of the prime foundations of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is the Visual Arts. The University's Faculty of Arts actually pre-dates the formation of the University, being one of the three existing colleges that amalgamated to form the University in 1963. Founded in 1957, it was the first institution in Hong Kong to offer courses on studio practice and art history at tertiary level. Although the teaching has always been firmly rooted in Chinese culture, the faculty has developed a unique reputation for bridging the connections between Chinese and Western practice. Through undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts programs, students are well prepared for the pluralistic art world. Since the days of the founding fathers of Hong Kong modern ink painting, CUHK has been an incubating hive for artistic talent. The faculty has seen the majority of the most respected and sought after Hong Kong artists either graduate from or teach in the Department of Fine Arts. The interaction between the artists is at the core of the department's strength. Indeed, the student and master relationships have deep roots that started growing in the second half of the 20th century.
Wucius Wong has made an immense contribution as an educator. Initially trained by Lui Shou Kwan, he has organised art and design courses at CUHK as early as 1965. Wong was the first to bring Western Modernist theories and concepts to Hong Kong. Integrating the principles of Western design with abstract composition of landscape, he worked with classical materials to pioneer the contemporary renewal of ink.
Artist Leung Kui Ting also played a pivotal role in New Ink. Having trained with Lui Shou Kwan at the Extra Mural Department (1964), he went on to study under Wucius Wong, who influenced his experimental approach. Working with a variety of techniques and media, he combines traditional brushwork and geometric lines in his landscape paintings.
Many students have moved from graduate to lecturer, including some of Hong Kong's most established contemporary artists. Au Hoi Lam (BA 2001) whose practice includes both paintings and installations, and Chow Chun Fai, (BA 2003, MFA 2006) who dedicates himself to painting, are both teaching painting in the Fine Arts Department. Laam Lam Jaffa (BA 1997, MFA 1999) is known for harnessing community engagement to develop her large-scale sculptural installations made from re-cycled materials; and Mok Yat San (BA 1993) who notably revisits the Chinese tradition of shan shui, or landscape painting in sculpture, are both part-time lecturers specialising in sculpture. Man Fung Yi (MFA 1999), famous for weaving metallic sculpture, taught as a part-time lecturer from 1999 to 2001. The Hong Kong scene is in its vast majority active and gathering attention at an international level through the works of the aforementioned teachers. It has also reached international acclaim through the works of graduates.
Over many years the Friends has supported the Fine Arts Department through sponsoring annual student awards and funding post-graduate scholarships. In 2016, the year of our 35th Anniversary, we are consolidating our support of the faculty by hosting a major exhibition of the work of students and their masters. In total 35 works have been selected for the exhibition. The curatorial strategy has been to exhibit work in a range of media to pay tribute to the masters, their students and the diversity of skills taught at the University. Nurturing Creativity will be exhibited at the Rotunda from 20th September to 7th October 2016. This is an opportunity for us all to admire and acquire an iconic work of art, with the additional benefits of fostering Fine Arts students and supporting the Art Museum.
by Laure Raibaut & Belinda Piggott
Board members, Friends of the Art Museum, CUHK
2016