Media

From Two Arises Three: The Collaborative Works of Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney
A visual duet of traditional ink painting and photography

01 Mar 2018

Wangchuan
Arnold Chang / Michael Cherney
Ink painting and photographic print on paper 2017

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will present From Two Arises Three: The Collaborative Works of Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney from March 2 to May 6, 2018, an exhibition highlighting the extraordinary collaboration of artists Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney. The unbroken Chinese ink painting tradition has developed continuously over the course of more than a millennium, and this evolution continues into the present day, as evidenced by the current popularity of contemporary ink. While Chinese contemporary art has gained prominence over the past decades, there has been a clear dichotomy between purely contemporary works and those with a stronger connection to tradition. This division now appears to be fading as traditional aesthetics merges with newer forms of media.

An opening ceremony of the exhibition was held at UMAG today (March 1). Officiating guests included artist Michael Cherney, guest curator Tiffany Wai-Ying Beres, Chairman of the HKU Museum Society Yvonne Choi and UMAG Director Florian Knothe.

Since 2009, Chang and Cherney have experimented with merging traditional ink with photography in a manner that remains true to the essence of traditional Chinese landscapes, while simultaneously bringing both media into the 21st century. At the edges where two worlds meet, where film grain and ink dots come together, the artists are able to look beyond specific cultures, definitions, borders and geographies.

The full range of traditional formats is represented in the exhibition—hanging scrolls, handscrolls, albums, individual prints and fans—while the collaborative pieces display a highly contemporary feel. By also presenting several individual works from each artist, a clearer understanding is gained of the journey that each artist has taken to their collaborative works.

For more images and captions of the exhibit items, please click here.

Saltscape #1
Arnold Chang / Michael Cherney
Ink painting and photographic print on paper 2017

Details of the Exhibition
Period: March 2, 2018 (Friday) to May 6, 2018 (Sunday)
Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays
Venue: 1/F & 2/F Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU
Instagram: #ArnoldChang, #MichaelCherney, #UMAG
Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG

About University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)
UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

Media enquiries
UMAG Senior Communications Officer Ms Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk
UMAG Programme Assistant Ms Chelsea Choi, Tel: (852) 2241 5509, Email: cchelsea@hku.hk

(From left) Toasting ceremony by Publisher of Orientations Yifawn Lee, Professor and Art Critic Pi Daojian, UMAG Director Florian Knothe, Artist Michael Cherney, Guest Curator Tiffany Wai-Ying Beres and Chairman of the HKU Museum Society Yvonne Choi.