7Adam presents a solo exhibition by Singapore-based artist Zhu Hong, known for his incorporation of the oriental energy of calligraphic brushworks into his painting of architectural elements while pushing the limit of colors of water media. In this exhibition, Zhu Hong departs from his renowned style by presenting sights of Singapore via the now-ubiquitous smartphone.

“Beyond the Screen”, an innovative take on the Singaporean experience, uses technology to tell its story: the Samsung Galaxy Note becomes the canvas while the S Pen is the tool of choice. Paper, brushes and palettes are represented digitally in this new technology, where any scene can be immediately recorded down with the touch of a finger. The physical material becomes less important as compared to the soul and point of view behind the medium.

Zhu Hong goes to areas familiar with most Singaporeans, like East Coast Road and Purvis Street, and showcases his East–West influence, as well as his background in architecture and his previous experience working as an interior designer, in these quick paintings. Using the application ‘S Note’, colours are bold, structures are fluid but strong, and people are captured in a single moment in time. By capturing seemingly ordinary scenes with a unique point of view, the everyday becomes a work of beauty.

These spontaneous digital sketches are captured on prints, canvas and paper, allowing a mix of traditional and new media in art. Zhu Hong believes that expressing this vision in a departure from his classic watercolours allows for an appreciation for everyday arts, in a medium that every person can use.

Image: © Zhu Hong, 7Adam Gallery