Book of Changes: The Art of Basil Pao

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Yijing, or Book of Changes, is unquestionably a quintessential Chinese cultural heritage. Confucianism and Daoism have their common roots here. Ancient Chinese philosophy, science, and statecraft and even modern living have all drawn inspiration from it. As a classical divination document and a philosophical exposition, this book has an enduring imprint on many aspects of Chinese life.

The current exhibition highlights the continued relevance of the Book of Changes through the artistic interpretation of Hong Kong photo artist Basil Pao. Two series of his works—The Great Walls of China and Glimpses of Silence—are presented here to explore the relation between heritage and artistic creation. Capturing a world of changing appearances, these pictures are the testament to Pao’s deep connections to the Book of Changes for embracing the authentic self and beholding the beauty and mystery of the world. The show offers a visual feast for observing the eternal energy and subtleties of change in all-embracing landscapes, contemplating the concept of “oneness with nature” in the ancient text.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Basil Pao began his photographic career in 1980 upon his return to Hong Kong after ten years in the United States, where he was art director for Atlantic Records and Album Graphics Inc. in New York, and Warner Brothers Records in Los Angeles. He first worked with Michael Palin when he designed the book, album cover and poster for the Monty Python film Life of Brian. They have since collaborated on 11 illustrated books based on the BBC travel series Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya, New Europe and Brazil. He is the author of Hands, China Revealed, Yi’Jing-Book of Changes, Shan Shui-Mountain-Water, The Universal Scream, OM2-Ordinary Moments+, Carnival of Dreams and The Last Emperor Revisited. His exhibition catalogues include Travels with Michael Palin for his exhibitions at the Fox Talbot Museum and the Royal Geographical Society in London; and Around the World in 8000 Days at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. His corporate limited editions include A Tale of Two Ventures for Wah Kwong Maritime Transport; AMAN, Bhutan and AMAN2 for Aman resorts; OM-Ordinary Moments, CMYK-China, and Blazing Shadows-A World of Black & Light for Printer Trento in Italy. Basil’s travel essays and other assignments, including his Special Stills photography for Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor and Little Buddha, Terry Jones’ Erik the Viking, Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and other feature films, have appeared in publications and exhibitions all around the world.