Curatorial Statement

Following the exhibitions “In the Mood for Art” (September 2011) and “Sit and Watch the Rising Clouds” (May 2012), I am delighted to curate a third exhibition at The Upper House entitled “Within Shan Shui”. This display of fine contemporary artworks captures the essence of beauty as artists make the connection between our modern lifestyle and the natural landscape.

“Shan Shui” (literally “mountain-water”) was the traditional style of Chinese landscape painting, reflecting the harmony of man with nature. The image of tiny figures travelling through mountains beneath cascading waterfalls is a classic motif of traditional Chinese art. Today Asian contemporary artists, aware of social change and the challenges of modern urban society, find their own way to express the emotion of their generation through “Shan Shui” painting. The harmony they evoke reflects a world vastly different, yet in some ways remarkably similar.

On display at The Upper House, Hong Kong’s leading contemporary hotel, “Within Shan Shui” is the exclusive preview exhibition for the 8th edition of Fine Art Asia, acclaimed as Asia’s leading international fine art fair, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4 to 7 October 2012.

I invite guests of The Upper House to experience the pleasure of cultured taste expressed by the artists in this exhibition; and I sincerely welcome you to Fine Art Asia 2012.

Special thanks to Mark Peaker for sharing his artistic vision for “Within Shan Shui” through his poem.


Within Shan Shui

Modern city, neglected fields,
Concreted rivers, forgotten streams.
An artist’s brush capturing change
Dark ink upon a canvas
A memory created for eternity.
Captured moments of the artist’s time,
The modern traveller gazes,
A silence spoken as wisdom is passed.
The brush alive; the story untold
Is told anew.

山水景致，參透風雲幻變，
筆墨盡興，見證古往今來，
藝術典藏，傳承人文睿哲，
奕居旅者，品味寰宇文化。