In Times of Peace and Harmony
Childlike innocence, wooden horses, and the height of summer…
The moment of childlike innocent imagination propels one’s source of feelings from the cityscape to an eternal sphere. In this series of works, Tong Chong conceals his feelings about the contemporary world, setting off the wings that fly across the sky as a metaphorical expression of the inner voice.
Since 2003 - following the three crucial exhibitions of ‘Wind and Sand’, ‘Restlessness’ and ‘Back & Forth’ - Tong’s works have been recognised as an important and integral part of Macao’s contemporary arts. With his determined exploration and detailed experience of everyday life, Tong will once again present his latest creations of the past two years in an attempt to deliver his perceptions about the overwhelmingly busy and hectic living style of Macao and the colours that paint the cityscape. Without doubt, his creations are suggestive of clear horizons, and Tong has again made use of familiar figures as players in his creations. In transferring tradition to the present day era, Tong utilises folk wood engraving to present, one after another, stories of the modern city.
The art of permutation is a habitual method of art creation. Making use of the elegant painting effect of ‘ink and wash’, Tong introduces brand new content through the intercourse between various differentiating elements. His masterpiece The Warm is Coming appears to have absorbed the world of the Shanhaijing legends (Classic Collection of Mountains and Seas): both humans and insects exert vigour and energy in welcoming the season of Summer. Symbolically, viewers are led into the artistic realm for the appreciation of green shade and the singing of cicada. Yet, the city is in constant flux. Every single one of us interacts with society but whether such interaction is delightful or upsetting depends upon one’s own fate. Tong humorously represents the commonality of a general lack of sleep of modern people by the portrayal of a heavy and darkened eye bag.
In co-ordination with a descriptive image and simple structure and colouring, the painting narrates the social experiences of the artist himself. Five hundred years ago, in the flourishing reign of Emperor Yongle, the seven expeditions of the world mark the strongest momentum of the Ming Dynasty. A century later, the Portuguese officially drop anchor in Macao to begin their rule over this tiny place for the following centuries. Macao has entered the age of overly rapid development after the Millennium – the sudden transformation of society has trigged confrontation in a complicated era.
Tang’s carefree and nonchalant personality also enables him to re-present the resonance of tradition whilst conveying a sense of sarcasm regarding the absurdity of modern people via graphic, three-dimensional art work. Upon unveiling, this elicits the thought: ‘How far should we go in order to draw ourselves nearer to the rendering of simple and pure images?’
- Wong Ka Long, Curator
