From Form to X, Kan Tai Keung Beyond 80

EVENT DESCRIPTION

In 1989, I had my first and last full-time designer work in Kan Tai Keung Design. Kan became a friend and a great teacher of mine in the graphic design industry and we have maintained a close acquaintanceship since then.

Last year, my book Light Ensemble was released, a decade-long collection of photographs that captured forms of light bouncing across the cityscapes of Hong Kong. Kan found the book very intriguing and it inspired him to make new works.

Earlier this year, Enders invited me to curate an exhibition for Kan. It reminded the wonderful journey of art between us. Kan suggested to integrate my Chinese name Tak Shing, namely “Virtues and Earnesty”, with Yi (Mind) and Ying (Form), making a brief of his ink art exploration with design background and a wish of him as an artist beyond eight decades of life.

Kan has created two series of new works for this show. Inspired by my book Light Ensemble, the first half is a set of 6 ink paintings. By reshaping the light and shadow with his unique and impressive touches, the artist reimagines a cozy corner of the modern city, resonating the spiritual life of ancient Chinese in the countryside. The idea of the second half comes from the word “Eighty”. Counting from ten to eighty, the calligraphy of Chinese numbers combines the geometric form of landscape, creating a series of mesmerising works of his signature calligraphic landscape, which assimilates calligraphy, landscape painting and graphic design.

From watercolour, experimental drawings, Pop art to Imaginative Landscapes, Calligraphic Landscapes, and his most recent works, this exhibition is a complete retrospection of Kan’s ongoing creative path since the 1960s. Some of which have never been exposed nor exhibited before, so do not miss this rare chance to see his works in person!

Last but not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Enders Wong for giving me this chance to curate for Mr. Kan, once again as his student. This exhibition will always be monumental, in a special place of my heart.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Born in 1942 in Pangyu, Guangzhou, Kan Tai-keung has resided in Hong Kong since 1957. He first studied sketching and watercolour painting with his Uncle May Tin in 1964, and in 1967, Kan took up the Applied Design Course taught by Wucius Wong and started his career as a designer since then. In the same year, Kan started to study Chinese Ink Painting with Lui Shou-kwan. In 1969, Kan begun creating his own ink painting, and became the member of the One Art Group. Kan was an active participant of Hong Kong New Ink Art Movement and has continued to work for a spark of originality. Since early 1970s, Kan has enthusiastically participated in art and design education, and has influenced many of his pupils.

Kan’s highly acclaimed works brought him early prominence, numerous of local and international awards. Important awards include: the first designer elected as one of the "Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons” (1979); Award of Urban Council Fine Art (1981); Gold Awards, International Art Competition, Los Angeles (1984); The 2nd Hsiung Shih Biennial Award (1987); Artist of the Year Award, Hong Kong (1991); 1st Prize in the 1st International Computer Art Biennale in Rzeszów (1995); Gold Award in Mercury Award, New York and Outstanding Achievements Award (1998). Kan was conferred the Honour of Bronze Bauhinia Star (1999) and later the Honour of Silver Bauhinia Star (2010). In 2005, Kan was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Design in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In 2016, he was award the HKDA Lifetime Honorary Award by Hong Kong Designers Association.

Being exhibited in both local and overseas, Kan’s works are widely collected by museums and private collectors alike, and are in the collections of M+ Museum; Hong Kong Museum of Art; Hong Kong Heritage Museum; The University of Hong Kong; National Art Museum of China; Guangdong Art Museum; Taiwan Provincial Art Museum; The Art Society of the International Monetary Fund Washington in U. S. A.; Minneapolis Institute of Art, U.S.A.; Victoria & Albert Museum British; The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford etc.

Kan actively involves in educating and promoting art and design profession. He is now the Fellow Member of Alliance Graphique Internationale; Advisor of the Leisure & Cultural Services Department; Honorary Advisor of Hong Kong Museum of Art ; the Advisor of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association Limited; Council Member of Pinshan Art Museum, the Honorary Dean of the Cheung Kong School of Art and Design, Shantou University. Kan was the Guest Professor of Central Institute of Fine Arts and Guest Professor of Tsing Hua University and Guest Professor, Honorary Professor and Chair Professor of Universities and institutes.