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Nostalgia for Ancient Times: Contemporary Chinese Art
to showcase contemporary techniques and styles in Chinese ink

02 Nov 2016

(From left to right) Ribbon-cutting ceremony by Guest Curator Dr Sarah Ng, Central Academy of Fine Arts Professor Zhao Li, Artist Ms Qing Ai, Artist Ms Kang Chun-hui, Guest Curator Ms Chen Lin and UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe.

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will collaborate once again with the Chinese Modern & Contemporary Art Document Research Centre and ZArt to present Nostalgia for Ancient Times: Contemporary Chinese Art from November 2, 2016 (today) to January 8, 2017. This innovative exhibition of contemporary Chinese ink paintings presents recent works by six young, established artists: Cheng Bao-zhong, Hao Liang, Kang Chun-hui, Liu Qi, Peng Jian and Qin Ai.

An opening ceremony of the exhibition was held at UMAG today. Officiating guests included Central Academy of Fine Arts Professor Zhao Li, Guest Curator Ms Chen Lin, Guest Curator Dr Sarah Ng, Artist Ms Kang Chun-hui, Artist Ms Qing Ai and UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe.

When viewed as a group, the exhibiting artists refer to a shared nostalgia that each expresses through ink on paper. Whether it is Cheng Bao-zhong’s finely rendered landscapes, Hao Liang’s depiction of a scholar or Peng Jian’s boldly coloured scholars’ books, the theme suggests a melancholic return to the past. Kang Chun-hui’s bird painting and Liu Qi’s “bamboo” further underline the contemplation of traditional painterly topics. In so doing, the painters appear to long for ancient times, as they depict some of the best-known and most celebrated motifs of bygone eras.

This development is no isolated phenomenon, but rather a more general trend as Chinese cultural practices are being re-explored more broadly. Artists — both nationally and internationally — have taken creative inspiration from China’s continuum of traditional arts. In the tradition of scholar artists, this young generation of highly skilled talent is steeping itself in the system of applied materials and techniques while moving forward through modes of self-cultivation and reflection.

Details of the Exhibition
Period: November 2 (Wednesday) to January 8, 2017 (Sunday)
Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays
Venue: 2/F Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, 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: #ChineseInk, #Nostalgia, #ContemporaryChineseArt, #HKUMAG
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 Communications Officer Miss Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk

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Nostalgia for Ancient Times: Contemporary Chinese Art to showcase contemporary techniques and styles in Chinese ink

Nostalgia for Ancient Times: Contemporary Chinese Art
to showcase contemporary techniques and styles in Chinese ink