WONG Sze Wai
Past Exhibitions
18 Nov- 17 Dec 2022 | Stone Steal - Wong Sze Wai's Solo Exhibition| Contemporary by Angela Li| Hong Kong
Contemporary by Angela Li is proud to present Stone Stealer, solo exhibition of Hong Kong artist Wong Sze Wai. Wong proposes an investigation of the relationship between memory and consciousness, extending beyond the canvas to an intertwined space of the imaginary and the forgotten. Inspired by the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard’s literature La Poétique de l'Espace, Wong guides the audience into a mysterious yet poetical habitat of our inner self. The exhibition opening will be held on Friday, 18 November, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and will remain on view until 17 December, 2022. The artist will be present during the opening.
Corners within a home and abandoned huts in Wong’s paintings are refuges for viewers to return for the exploration of their own inner self. Resonating with Bachelard’s theory that sensory stimulation often invokes people’s fantasies on their surroundings, Wong uses her canvases as the medium for viewers to tap into their dormant consciousness where memories and imagination intertwine. Inspired by ancient mural art and Western painting masters, Wong uses mineral pigments, clay and other materials, adding onto the canvases layer by layer. The textures spawned from the dried clay magnify the paintings’ relationships to space and time, and lead the viewers to a further dimension.
To Wong, the stone statues and sculptures, being protagonists of the exhibition, act as witnesses to our history. These items symbolise the stories and transformations of a civilization, carrying the memories of a city. Through the sculptures and statues, we unlock the doorway connecting to our distant memories and travel to another realm. The fences and window frames also become passageways, allowing the viewers to explore the external world that leads onto vast imaginary spaces.
26 May - 29 May, 2022
|Contemporary by Angela Li|Art Central, HKCEC| Booth A1|
Contemporary by Angela Li is proud to participate in Art Central 2022 from 25th to 29th May (preview on 25th May), presenting a group exhibition at Booth #A1 showing the artworks of Kurt Chan, Chan Wai Lap, Cheung Tsz Hin, Fatina Kong, Kwong Man Chun, Lv Shanchuan, Ng Chung, Jacky Tsai, Wu Didi and Angela Yuen, as well as a solo project The Missing Operator by the young Hong Kong artist Wong Sze Wai at Booth #B14. The project debuts Wong’s latest paintings created in the past year. Incorporating Eastern and Western mediums in her oeuvre, Wong explores the infinite visual elements and undiscovered corners in Hong Kong.
Fascinated by the untrodden areas of the city, Wong Sze Wai exercises her powerful imagination to construct an idiosyncratic “wonderland of daydream” transcending time and space on her canvases. In Wong’s recent body of works, she envisages the history and by-gone tales of Hong Kong by depicting the overlooked quadrants of the metropolis, aiming to explore the intimate relationship between memory and imagination. Drawing inspirations from the ancient Chinese murals in the Dunhuang Caves and the Medieval murals in Eastern Europe, Wong deploys mineral colors and delicate brushstrokes to render a sense of nostalgia in her artworks, evoking the ruminations of the possible past.
Wong’s artworks are closely related to Hong Kong's modern livelihood. Various daily objects, such as blue and white tarpaulin, discarded fences, bricks and plastic chairs, are seen scattered on the undulating hills in the paintings, reminiscent of mystical treasures hidden in the woods to be excavated. Layers of clay applied on the canvases reveal a touch of rawness, which reinforce the otherworldliness and whimsicality of the hidden city spots. Wong's paintings, in this sense, turn into tranquil yet spirited lands of wonder, bursting with the vitality of human lives. By exhibiting the untrodden haven of mysteries with a futuristic vision, the artist invites her audience to leave behind the complications of society, view the material world with a peaceful mind and roam the intersecting realms of reality and imagination. In turn, Wong brings us onto a soul-searching journey that allows us to reflect upon ourselves, and ponder on our relationships with the greater spectacle.
1 Dec - 3 Dec, 2021 | Friends of Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong | Sotheby's|
8 Oct- 11 Oct 2021 | Fine Art Asia|Hall 3C HKCEC|
Booth B2 | Contemporary by Angela Li
Booth F10 | Hong Kong Cancer Fund Charity Auction
2 Jul - 7 Aug, 2021 | Contemporary by Angela Li| Sheung Wan|
It has been a while since the world seems to have paused, and daily activities have been put to a stall. In the face of an uncertain future, people continue to be trapped in the dimension of the present moment. Neither can yesterday be erased, nor a path to tomorrow be created. People’s hearts stay between the past, the present and the future.
Contemporary by Angela Li is proud to present group exhibition curated by Leung Shiu Kee Eric “Future of the Past” from 2 July to 7 August, showcasing artworks by seven Hong Kong artists who use their works to explore the meaning of time, history and memories. Participating artists include Au Hoi Lam, Cheung Ho Keung Edward, Leung Lok Hei Giraffe, Ma King Chu Ivy, Wong Chak Hung, Wong Sze Wai and Wong Ying Sheung Ying. Their thoughts and emotions are captured in a particular moment through artistic practices with distinctive characteristics.
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In Wong Sze Wai’s paintings, she takes historical remains for its symbolic representation of memories and history, where hidden stories can be found. By applying short-lived materials, alongside repetitive procedures of washing them out, she attempts to capture how the past has been rewritten and removed consistently. Brushed in colours that remind viewers of the ancient wall mural paintings, Wong’s works are depicting every corner of this city.
過去一段日子，世界像暫時停頓，生活一度劃上休止符。面對不確定的未來，眾人彷彿仍凝結於徬徨的狀態，繼續囚困在「現在」這維度，既不能抹去歷史記憶，亦未能直接由過去穿越至未來，心靈在過去、現在和未來之間激盪。
Contemporary by Angela Li畫廊特別於7月2日至8月7日舉辦由梁兆基策展的《過去的未來》(Future of the Past) 展覽，邀請七位本地藝術家，展出他們探討時間、歷史與記憶的創作。參展藝術家包括區凱琳、張浩強、梁洛熙、馬琼珠、黃澤雄、黃詩慧及黃影嫦，透過各具特色的藝術手法，從不同視點刻劃他們在某一個當下的所感所思。
黃詩慧的繪畫以廢墟為主題，視之為記憶和歷史的載體，從中發掘隱藏的記憶及被遺忘的事蹟。藝術家特意使用不穩定的媒材，透過重覆繪畫和沖洗的過程，表達記憶及歷史被不斷書寫和抹除。作品以充滿古舊壁畫的斑斕色彩，紀錄著消逝的城市角落。
15 May - 17 Jun, 2021 | TANG Art Foundation| Wong Chuk Hang |
TANG Art Foundation is proud to announce the opening of “Shining Moment,” the group exhibition of Hong Kong artists, curated by renowned architect and art collector Mr. William Lim at our Wong Chuk Hang space. The exhibition consists of representational works by Ant Ngai Wing Lam, Kurt Chan, Chan Wai Lap, Cheng Hung, Szelit Cheung, Argus Fong, Stanley Shum Kwan Hon, Frank Tang, Wong Chun Hei, Wong Shun Yu, Wong Sze Wai, in order to explore the theme of light and space. Light, as the origin of vision, brings along shadows and space. The various wavelengths of light constitute the spectrum and thus colour and reflection. If an artist can express light freely, there will be great sense of colour, light and shadow and spatial arrangement. In this exhibition, numerous Hong Kong artists apply their own twist on the theme “shining moment”. Szelit Cheung is masterful in depicting the passage of light across spaces. Ant Ngai Wing Lam expresses either a sense of humor or solemnity with the illuminated characters; Frank Tang presents light realistically by creating movement through installation art; both Argus Fong and Cheng Hung manipulate the colours of shadow to create light; the exaggerated, intense contrast of light and darkness in Stanley’s paintings gives a liveliness that reflects the hustle and bustle of the city. As a city with scarce land, housing and private spaces are of utter importance to Hong Kong people. Nevertheless, we treasure open areas in the suburbs as much, especially during the epidemic and when we wish to escape from the hasty urban life. In response to this notion of space, Hong Kong artist show particular sensitivity to spatial arrangements in their works. For example, Kurt Chan is excellent at creating abstract space on his canvas, liberating from the constraints of physical space through lines, colors, light and shadow; Wong Shun Yu’s floral paintings present a space with natural warmth; the far-reaching wilderness in Wong Sze Wai’s works.
唐⼈藝術基⾦會榮幸宣佈於 5 ⽉15 ⽇於⿈⽵坑空間推出⾸個⾹港藝術家群展《光輝》，由著名建築師及收藏家林偉⽽ 策展，囊括蟻穎琳、陳育強、陳惠⽴、鄭虹、張施烈、⽅梓亮、沈軍翰、鄧啟耀、⿈進曦、⺩順瑜、⿈詩慧等⾹港藝術 家具代表性作品，探索光與空間的主題。 光，從來是視覺之本。有了光才會有陰影，繼⽽出現空間，波⻑不⼀的光譜給予我們⾊彩的維度與反射。藝術家能掌握 好如何表現光的⼿法的話，⾊感、明暗、空間感便會隨之⽽來。是次展覽中⼀眾⾹港藝術家對於「光輝」這個主題都有 著深刻的理解。張施烈擅於觀察光線在狹縫中對空間氣氛的作⽤；蟻穎琳以⼈物⾝上的光感表現出或詼諧、或肅穆的感 覺；鄧啟耀透過裝置藝術的動態呈現出逼真的光線；雖沒有明亮⾊彩，⽅梓亮及鄭虹畫中的明暗深淺，亦創作出光影； 沈軍翰的畫作中誇張、強烈的光暗與質感，予⼈的喧鬧感正好反映這座喧囂塵上的城市。 ⾹港作為⼀個⼨⾦尺⼟的城市，⼈們對於樓房與私⼈空間都⾮常著重，在疫情期間有機會的話，也總是往郊外空曠的地 ⽅踏⻘，呼吸放鬆，驅⾛來⾃於狹⼩空間的侷促。正因為對⽣活空間的認知與其他城市不⼀樣，⾹港藝術家對作品的空 間感呈現出異樣的敏感度，如陳育強擅⻑於畫布上營造抽象空間，脫離物理空間的限制⽽遊⾛於線條、顏⾊、光影間賦 予的空間感；⺩順瑜的花卉呈現出⾃然溫暖的空間；⿈詩慧筆下深遠的曠野、⿈進曦所仰望廣闊無限的天空、陳惠⽴⼿ 繪載滿⽇常回憶的紙上作品，都指涉時間的流逝與對記憶空間的盼待。
Invisible Border of Memories
16 Jan - 20 Feb, 2021 | Art Project Gallery | Wong Chuk Hang | Hong Kong
Art Projects Gallery proudly presents works by Hong Kong artists Wong Sze Wai and Bethany Wong Ka Yi. The duo exhibition, titled “Invisible Border of Memories” reexamines the idea of “that has been” in the medium of painting, with a contemplative poetic approach.
Wong Sze Wai’s artistic practice addresses the themes of ruined land, to express the state between mortality and the diminishing lease of life. The ancient palimpsests’ paint and smear process initiates Sze Wai’s painting approach. The mottled texture in her painting expresses the elapse in time and the artist’s imagination. Exploring ruined land is part of Sze Wai’s practise, her artwork mostly depicting the subject matter of the ruined land in Hong Kong. She reexamines the idea of time and spaces, in the context of the subject with its adjacent objects, while questioning the realness of memories.
Bethany Wong Ka Yi discusses the incidents surrounding herself in a poetic manner. Depicting common daily objects like the kapok trees, plants and also the Lu-Ting Series, she metaphorized stories with different organic subject matters. The elements she depicted are selected from her methodologically collected archive of daily objects. In the Lu-Ting Series, Bethany investigates the Lu-Ting myth, which is allegorically regarded as the origin of Hong Kong People, and as metaphors to the social state in recent Hong Kong.
The duo exhibition will be held at Art Projects Gallery from 16 Jan – 20 Feb 2021.
藝途畫廊榮幸呈現兩名新銳香港女藝術家--黃詩慧及黃嘉怡的二人聯展《回憶邊界》。展覽將展出兩名藝術家的近期作品，藝術家分別通過繪畫來呈現對曾經存在的事物的重新審視，並帶出一種淡淡的詩意。
黃詩慧的作品以廢墟為題，表現一種在朽壞與生機之間來回往復的狀態。古代羊皮紙塗抹與重寫的過程（palimpsest)啟發了藝術家的繪畫方式，即透過塗抹而來的痕跡及斑駁感，表現時間的流逝，從而打開想像的空間。而她本人有探索香港廢墟的習慣，並透過探廢的過程中，反思時間、空間及自身與外在環境的關係，重新審視記憶的真實性。
黃嘉怡則將日常周遭的物與事，通過自身隱喻的手法，以詩意的方式來呈現她的作品。從繪畫木棉花、植物等的一些日常物，以至其近作--盧亭系列，均以自然形成的事物與現象，隱喻為故事主題 。她所描繪的題材，都源自她平日所收集的事物檔案。而盧亭系列則透過研究盧亭文化故事，探究香港人的歷史，從而隱喻一些香港近年的社會狀態。
《回憶邊界》，將於2021年1月16日至2月20日，在藝途畫廊展出，歡迎公眾前來參觀。
HKFOREWORD20
24 Sep - 30 Oct, 2020 | 10 Chancery Lane Gallery | Central | Hong Kong
In this momentous year of 2020, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery is pleased to present HKFOREWORD20, an annual exhibition of curated artworks from 10 of Hong Kong’s most exciting recent art graduates. Now in its ninth year, the HKFOREWORD series, organized by 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, aims to actively promote a new generation of contemporary artists in Hong Kong from local and international universities offering art degree programs. Artists in the show are recent Bachelor’s or Master’s degree graduates from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University-School of Creative Media, Hong Kong Art School, The Academy of Visual Arts at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Hong Kong and Goldsmiths, University of London.
http://www.10chancerylanegallery.com/exhibitions/2020/HKFOREWORD20/en/
Make _ art Not War [T/F]
11 Jul - 30 Aug, 2020 | Osage Gallery | Kwun Tong | Hong Kong
Against the backdrop of the global pandemic and local political unrest, we were able to rise above the unprecedented challenges we faced in preparation of our graduate show this year. It has been our greatest desire to share and celebrate the fruition of our 2-year research and
creative works to the public. We are grateful for our venue sponsor – Osage Art Foundation – for allowing us to make this happen at their renowned gallery space in the coming July. Also, a big thankyou to our all time supporter Professor Mayching Kao, without her generous Art Funds sponsorship, our show will not be as complete.
We are excited to announce “Make _ art Not War [T/F]” a group show of 4 MFA graduates from The Chinese University of Hong Kong: Iv Tsz Man Chan, Chang Yue Lam, Fung Hoi Shan and Wong Sze Wai. Our creative practices vary in different media, exploring themes ranging
from the problematic body, post-industrial society, human-animal relationships and the memory space, offering multiple layers of perspectives and possibilities of artistic creation.
Our show title is inspired by the famous 60s slogan “Make Love, Not War”. Presented with a twist – the dedication in art amidst chaos – we bring out the absurdity (or not) of our unwavering commitment towards art-making and our faith in its power.
