Tracing the Unseen: The Art of Fung Chim

EVENT DESCRIPTION

a|n Gallery is pleased to present “Tracing the Unseen: The Art of Fung Chim”, from May 5 to May 20, 2022. This exhibition presents a rare opportunity to see a fine, comprehensive collection of naturalistic paintings by one of Hong Kong’s most outstanding young artists.

Fung Chim began his career in Hong Kong after obtaining a degree in Fine Arts from the RMIT in Melbourne, Australia. As a breakout artist, Fung Chim has participated in numerous group shows in Hong Kong and overseas. Upon receiving the 2017 Art Next International Artists Award – Special Award, Fung Chim was granted a 3-month artist residency at the prestigious Taipei Artist Village. His paintings draw inspirations from both natural and city landscapes. Fung Chim often wanders throughout the residential areas of Hong Kong that are so commonplace they go unnoticed. “I am fascinated by the design of old public housing estates that are unique to Hong Kong. Often, there are tall trees planted in the open space in front of the buildings. The natural, ever-changing leaves and flowers create an interesting spatial and visual contrast with the repetitive and structured mosaic tile walls in the background.”

Rather than using perspective techniques to re-create the environment, Fung Chim takes this inspiration to create a unique visual world—one that is simultaneously natural and imaginative. Many of his paintings place a tree in the forefront, with the leaves, branches and petals executed in meticulous detail. The mosaic tiles or windows behind the tree serve as a patterned background. When viewed closely, one will find that these seemingly mundane building features have also been depicted with a precision akin to photography. While Fung Chim’s paintings are based on actual locations in Hong Kong familiar to local residents, the way he reconstructs the scenes makes each place almost unrecognisable. Therefore, the viewers are led on a journey of déjà vu; they are left wondering if they have been to this familiar yet indistinct location before.

In his latest collection, “Tracing the Unseen”, Fung Chim has made extensive use of natural pigments to enhance the visual impact of each painting. In the “Four Seasons” series, he subtly uses these pigments to depict the different ambience of each season. Fung Chim states, “Although seasonal changes are not obvious in Hong Kong, the life cycle of trees in public housing estates clearly indicate the change in weather. Interestingly, the different colours of the mosaic tiles somehow echo the changes.” In “Spring”, the artist has added malachite and potter’s pink to paint a wall that is green and brown in reality. Together, the colours help to emulate the vibe of spring. In “Winter”, he uses vivianite to create a sense of dryness. The artist utilizes pigments commonly used in 16th and 17th century paintings, but rarely seen in contemporary works. In doing so, he references classical paintings and creates a deep sense of nostalgia.

Fung Chim’s art is characterized by his signature use of one or two special colours, each standing out from the main tone of the painting. In “Ilex Rotunda”, the main subject of the tree occupies most of the space. While the aim is to highlight the different shades of leaves in sunlight, the artist has drawn red berries to strikingly enhance the tree’s vividness. The unexpected addition of a Turkish blue wall on the right completes the visual composition, granting the painting extra richness and depth.

Judy Inn, a|n Gallery’s director, commented, “Fung Chim’s paintings are known for their naturalistic and meticulous rendering of the subjects depicted. With a touch of imagination, his works reveal the unnoticed beauty of our surroundings. Interestingly, his unwavering pursuit of artistic perfection stands in contrast to his modest, unassuming character, which is a testament to his great artistic mind.”