Remaster and Appropriating the Classics is the exchange exhibition joint host by VT Artsalon and am space from Hong Kong. Building on the experience in the past where VT have collaborated with various art spaces from different Asian cities, this year, VT Artsalon will collaborate with am space from Hong Kong. By nominating one curator each, the two spaces discuss on the possible topics and the concepts of the exhibition. Discussions and exchanges of notions have been done on the issue of the relationship between artists, their society, media and forms. In the end, the two art spaces decide to demonstrate their points of view individually toward a unifying concept, and connect the similarities within.

“Appropriating the Classics,” proposed by am space, is trying to organize the context of art history in Hong Kong and discuss the possibility of contemporary ink wash painting; from the previous representational forms of art to deriving a new method of presentation. Koon Wai Bong’s works frequently borrows from the classical Chinese elements, the concept of his works, emphasizes on the spiritual presences of the ink wash painting, trying to use a contemporary methods to describe the current state of mind. Tang Kwok Hin’s work “Gough in the Valley” is attempting to rethink the way ink painting is viewed, escaping from the usual tools used, familiar large area of white page, symbols of mountain and water. But rather concentrates on the society’s general culture and atmosphere in the past, using internet search engine to reconstruct the world’s image and understanding for traditional ink wash.

“Remaster” is the title proposed by VT Artsalon to engage in the conversation. As time progress, contemporary artists use the styles, forms, and incidents from the past to search for an appropriate description and sense of the present. Yao Jui-Chung and Chen Chun-Hao uses contemporary mediums and perspective to reinterpret traditional ink wash landscape paintings. Chang Li-Ren’s works features female figure from famous paintings in the past, using his personal view to give the female protagonist a new image, to be looked at and imagined. Similarly using female as the main subject is artist Liao Chi-Yu, through dressing up as different female character, imaginations and experiences of different aspects of contemporary culture, create a display of bitter sweet emotions; the images bares resemblance to the traditional still life settings, under the seemingly balanced image composition lays slight movements and sound giving viewers a different experience. Chen Chin-Yao borrows from the political figures, making the originally serious and stiff political portraits witty and humorous also at the same time commenting on the history of Taiwan.

This time in the exchange exhibition between VT Artsalon and am space, viewers will be able to see a contemporary interpretation of the classical arts, the differences and similarities between the past and present, changes brought by the advance of technology, the dynamic and diversity in current politics and cultures. Looking at the artists from the two cities we can also see the statement holds for this exchange as well.

Exhibition Artist
(Taiwan)
Yao Jui Chung, Chang Li Ren, Chen Chun Hao, Chen Chin Yao, Liao Chi Yu
(Hong Kong)
Tang Kwok Hin, Koon Wai Bong, Hung Keung, Frank Vigneron, Lau Hok Shing, Chris Huen Sin Kan 

*image (left)
© Koon Wai Bong
courtesy of the artist