Prof Johnson Chow Su-sing was born in the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in 1923. The land of his birth is home to men of letters and Chow is upheld as a key figure along the heritage of the Wu School of Chinese painting dating back to the Ming Dynasty. He is also the role model of the literati painter in contemporary China. Migrating to Hong Kong in 1949, he taught at the Department of Fine Arts in New Asia College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong from 1962 to 1971. During his stay in Hong Kong, he became affiliated with master painters of his time like Zhang Daqian, Pu Xingyu, Zhu Qizhan, Xie Zhiliu and Chen Peiqiu. Having travelled to America from the 70s to the 80s, Prof Chow finally chose to settle down in Canada. While living overseas, he devoted himself to the cause of aesthetics in traditional Chinese painting. His efforts demonstrated a profound effect, and represented the first step or the Wu School of Chinese painting to gain recognition in the international art world.

61 landscape and bird-and-flower paintings by Prof Chow are on display in this exhibition. In retrospect of his artistic life spanning more than six decades and his dedication to the advancement of literati painting, this exhibition covers his most representative works – splash-ink freehand brushstroke in landscape painting. His works are a manifestation of his travel experience in half of a century, uplifting people with his passion for life and living. Other than artistic creation, Prof Chow also wrote to propound his ideas by publishing a series of commentaries and compiling a wide array of titles on arts. In recognition of his contribution to the promotion of artistic education over the decades, a fine selection of Prof Chow's scholarly works is included in this exhibition. Also on view are interviews conducted with ten peers and friends of Prof Chow.