Watch This | 'Colour by Wong May Lee' and 'Colour by Lam Yi Kei': Sun Museum presents

Sun Museum Presents

"Colour by Wong May Lee" and "Colour by Lam Yi Kei"

Extraordinary Artistic Journeys Inspired by Ancient and Modern Classics

(24th August, 2023, Hong Kong) Sun Museum will concurrently present two exhibitions, "Colour by Wong May Lee" and "Colour by Lam Yi Kei" from 25th August to 7th October, 2023. The exhibitions will showcase 85 ceramic creations and precious ancient kiln finds by Hong Kong female ceramics artist Wong May Lee, as well as 30 oil paintings by artist Lam Yi Kei.

Wong May Lee has been engaged in ceramic art since the 1970s, excelling in pottery from making wheel-thrown vessels to handbuilt clay sculptures. She passionately dives into the world of pottery and explores various pottery-making and firing techniques, from creating the splendid reduction effects in rakufiring, experimenting with the natural ash glaze in wood firing, to appreciating the elegant and rustic Yixing's zisha(purple clay) pieces. Wong's extensive exploration of ceramic techniques has made her a living encyclopedia of ceramics. The exhibition "Colour by Wong May Lee" provides the public with an opportunity to get acquainted with this experienced Hong Kong ceramics artist.

Among Wong May Lee's numerous works, her celadon series stands out. Celadon glaze is the earliest glaze in Chinese ceramics, with Longquan kiln's meizi qing(plum green) and fen qing(powder blue) being particularly renowned. Meizi qingworks are especially rare and captivating. Wong visited the Longquan kiln more than 20 years ago to learn the relevant techniques, also introducing Western ceramic techniques to local craftsmen. The exhibition showcases her exquisite pieces, such as the "Plum green celadon vase with floral decoration" and the celadon dish "Joyful" , both fired in the Longquan kiln. The former showcases wheel-throwing technique with intricate engraving and a lustrous and elegant glaze, while the latter combines wheel-throwing with handbuilding, presenting a simple but playful form. The high iron content in the clay reveals its original reddish-brown color beneath the thin glaze, embodying the distinctive characteristics of Chinese ceramic art, known as zi kou(a purple rim) and tie zu(an iron-rust-coloured foot).

Wong May Lee is also one of the pioneer Hong Kong artists to explore the technique of wood firing. Ceramic production in Hong Kong has mainly relied on electric kilns. As early as the late 1980s, Wong visited kilns in the Greater China region and even in Japan to experience and study traditional wood firing. The exhibition showcases Wong's wood-fired ceramics from the dragon kiln of the Ming Dynasty in Shiwan, as well as pieces fired in kilns in Taiwan, such as Taoyuan, Shuili, Miaoli, and Taichung. Visitors can appreciate the beauty of high-temperature wood firing with the natural ash glazes. In addition to celadon and wood firing, the exhibition also includes works exploring different firing techniques such as rakufiring, smoke firing, reduction firing, salt firing, and soda firing.

"Colour by Lam Yi Kei" presents oil paintings created by the veteran artist since 2013, reflecting his life experiences over the past decade. Lam's works primarily focus on landscapes and figures, with themes revolving around people and objects related to his personal experiences, capturing these familiar life records with oil paints. Lam has travelled to famous museums across Europe, learning from the masterpieces and enriching his artistic life through these journeys. He excels at capturing the trajectory, angle, and intensity of light, manipulating light and shadow to create exceptional ambience. His works exude the qualities of Western Classical and Impressionist paintings.

Lam Yi Kei prefers thin oil paints for their quick drying properties. He uses thick oil paints to enhance the sense of depth and variation in his works. His brushwork is lively and not confined to a specific style. It is because he prefers to highlight the themes of his paintings, instead of showing off his artistic style. The exhibition showcases a series of works with Hong Kong as the main theme, including " Rain Street", " Morning Sunbeam on Hong Kong Island", "Back Alley", and "Tsim Sha Tsui East's Haze", presenting dreamlike urban scenes that lead viewers to appreciate this familiar city from a different perspective.

Mr. Yeung Chun Tong, Director of the Sun Museum said, "Wong May Lee 's remarkable achievement lies in reviving Chinese ceramic art and integrating non-Chinese ceramic techniques, resulting in delightful glazes. Lam Yi Kei, through studying classic works, delighting both himself and others with his paintings. Both artists have gone through extensive journeys in their artistic pursuits, refining their works to bring joy to viewers."

Sun Museum is located on the 4th floor of SML Tower, 165 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Admission is free.