WHAT
In the cycle of the 5 phases, 2023 is a year of water. Curated by Gallery Director, Calvin Hui, the exhibition showcases a group of artists to celebrate growth, life, and nourishment – all the things that can only occur with the existence of water. Dr. Malcolm McNeill, who wrote the introductory essay to the exhibition, references water as 3 different metaphors: water as heritage, water as material, and water as concept. Each of these ideas is portrayed by the artists as they create a multitude of works on mediums such as canvas and silk. An overarching view of the works gives off an impressive display of varying shades of blue, showcasing the power and beauty of water. Artists included in this exhibition include Hsiao Chin, Liu Guofu, Raymond Fung, Shang Chengxiang, Chloe Ho, Yan Yanling, Liu Yangwen, and Zhao Zhao.

WHY
The gallery has a long-standing commitment to ink art, and many of the artists in this exhibition work primarily if not exclusively in ink. While water can be a metaphor for human creativity, on a more literal level it has always been a key constituent in ink painting and calligraphy. Modern and contemporary artists continued to experiment with water’s material properties, and it is no different for the artists in this exhibition, who experiment with and manipulate water in new and exciting ways. The presentation prompts audiences to be more fluid in their ways of thinking, in their ways of looking, and in their ways of feeling, as they respond to the diverse creative expressions that these artworks contain.