Renowned Hong Kong artist Chiu Wai-yee unveils her latest solo exhibition, "In Colour", a significant return of the artist since her last show "Interdependence" in 2014. The exhibition, which will run at the Hong Kong Arts Centre from Jan. 6 to 12, 2026, will showcase the artist's most representative recent works during a transformative period in her artistic career.
Chiu's creative trajectory holds immense research value in the history of HK's art development. Since 1981, she has studied under the renowned painter Irene Chou Lu-yun, who herself was a disciple of Lui Shou-kwan, the founder of the "New Ink Movement" in HK. This lineage represents a crucial narrative in HK art history — the transmission and evolution of the "New Ink Movement".
The exhibition showcases a total of 36 pieces in four sets of Chiu's works, including "Compassion in Dreams", "Trapped Vision", "Home in the Valley," and "Flowing Sky". They capture Chiu's experiences of "spiritual liberation" in her creative process, which is built on spontaneous brushstrokes without drafts or preconceived colours, and seeks ultimate freedom.
"Trapped Vision" was created during the pandemic, illustrating the artist's confinement while cattle roam freely outside, exploring the quest for spiritual freedom amid restrictions. "Flowing Sky" breaks the dimensional limitations of traditional painting by cutting and reconfiguring the canvas and hanging it at varying heights. It serves as an interpretation of life's flow, urging a release from past attachments while anticipating a beautiful future.
"Home in the Valley" presents a dreamland made up of twenty houses covered in plants, reflecting on the fast-paced modern life. "Compassion in Dreams" draws inspiration from the artist's mural impressions during a trip to Shanxi, envisioning the artist becoming a gentle light to illuminate the hearts of others through the power of compassion in dreams.
Chiu notes that her previous works were often constrained by technical and material limitations. In the "In Colour" series, she chooses to "release", embracing an unrestrained approach to creation through spontaneous brushstrokes and random colour mixing in search of a borderless sensation. The artist emphasises that spiritual liberation is the origin of true freedom and encourages viewers to let go of their attachment to form, allowing their spirits to soar freely in the creative process.
Born in HK, Chiu's unique style has garnered international attention. Her work was selected for the XIXth International Prix of Contemporary Art Exhibition of Monte Carlo in Monaco, and in 2023, she received the Cert of Commendation from the HKSAR's Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Her works are collected by the Ayala Museum, the Asian Development Bank, and various public institutions.
Details of "In Colour"
- Venue: The Pao Galleries, 4/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre
- Date: Jan. 6-12, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Jan. 6–11); 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., (Jan. 12)
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