Hong Kong International Art Fair    May 14 - May 18, 2008

Gallery Director Pearl Lam will feature works by Shao Fan and Zhang Huan

Stand H02 / May 14 -18, 2008 / Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center

HONG KONG – Contrasts Gallery will focus on work by multi-disciplinary artists Shao Fan and Zhang Huan at the 2008 Hong Kong International Art Fair. Founded in Hong Kong in 1992 by Pearl Lam, Contrasts Gallery is evolved from the philosophy of Chinese Literati art, which does not segregate or hierarchize creativity.

Contrasts Gallery will be located at Stand H02, Halls 1A & 1B, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong. An invitation-only preview will take place Wednesday, May 14 from 3:00-6:00pm, followed by a invitation- or pre-booked tickets only Vernissage from 6:00-9:00pm. The fair will be open to the public Thursday, May 15 – Saturday, May 17 from 11:00am – 7:00pm and Sunday, May 18 from 11:00am – 5:00pm.

Contrasts’ encourages a re-evaluation of contemporary Chinese art by featuring works that synthesize Chinese sensibilities with an international visual language. Chinese artists reinterpret their traditions by fusing them with Western influences to express their feelings about the dynamic changes in China today. The Gallery also invites international artists to come to China as part of its artist in residence program to produce new bodies of work.

Shao Fan is one of the first Chinese artists to explore the boundaries between visual art and design. Trained as a painter, he developed an interest in three-dimensional art and design and is best known for de/reconstructed functional and non-functional combinations of traditional Ming style furniture and modern materials. In Work No. 2 of Year 2006, for example, traditional methods, such as mortise and tenon joinery, produce modern sculptural forms that seek to balance past and present, reflecting contemporary Chinese culture. By mixing elements of Ming chairs and tables with plexiglass and other modern elements, Shao creates 21st-century objects that capture the rapid transformation of the society around him and question whether expediency should replace the grace and beauty of tradition.

Zhang Huan, one of China’s most famous performance artists, has transitioned successfully into mixed media work, such as his series of ash paintings that are made from the ashes left by burning incense at Buddhist temples. Traditionally, incense burning has commonly been practiced as a way of honoring familial ancestors, as well as worshipping idols, deities and spirits. Even in Chinese daily life today, blessings, prayers, fortune telling, dealing with bad omens and funeral rites would be incomplete without the burning of incense. In the past, the ash from Buddhist temples was scattered into the sea or lakes, dumped in the woods, or buried. When Zhang found that today this ash is processed as garbage, he had kilos and kilos transported to his studio, where 20 different shades were sorted, to create the works. Examples on view will include Xiao Xiao (2007) and The Kuomintang (2007).

About Contrasts Gallery
Contrasts Gallery is aptly named because its philosophy is to celebrate and exaggerate differences. Founded in Hong Kong in 1992, the Gallery from inception set itself the task of exploring the relationships between art, architecture, and design by fusing individual creative talents without prejudice. As the first art gallery in Asia (outside Japan and Korea) to exhibit the international avant-garde, the Gallery shows artworks from cutting-edge artists and commission pieces from designers worldwide. Its mission is to show artists who explore Western and Eastern influences on art by creating a new aesthetic that defines the dynamic changes of today.

Contrasts Gallery’s program encourages a re-evaluation of Chinese contemporary art to reflect the vast range of artistic expression in China today. Much of the most interesting work by Chinese contemporary artists can be seen as a synthesis of the rich traditions and cultural identity of China with an international contemporary visual language. Contrasts Gallery believes that China will rediscover her past, and by incorporating modernity, a new artistic expression will emerge that can establish China as the centre of the contemporary art world.

In addition to showcasing Chinese contemporary artists, Contrasts Gallery also brings international artists to China to further cultural exchange and introduce their works to a local audience. These artists are often inspired by their trips to the East and create new works that blend Eastern and Western influences.

Besides its fine art program, Contrasts Gallery also shows works by established and emerging international designers, such as Maarten Baas, Jurgen Bey, Mattia Bonetti, and XYZ Design, at its design consulate in Shanghai. Designers are invited to push the boundaries of traditional Chinese art and craft techniques to create new works that often reflect their experiences in China or some aspect of Chinese culture.

The Gallery supports cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary understanding through fine art, design, and decorative arts by representing international artists working in divergent traditions and across disciplines.