Leo Wong: Chinoiserie – Enduring allure of the Far East

EVENT DESCRIPTION

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of French May Arts Festival, Hong Kong ceramicist Leo Wong presents a visual art exhibition “Chinoiserie: Enduring Allure of the Far East”, to explore the profound influence and intertwinement of oriental art and craftsmanship on European art history and modern design. The exhibition is divided into three sections:

The European Obsession with Porcelain

With the rise of trade between China and the West since 17th century, oriental craft treasures arrived at the other end of the Eurasian continent that triggered the pursuit of Far Eastern knowledge and imitation of lifestyles in European society. Ceramics (Chinaware) has even become synonymous with “China”, and has lead a huge trend that influenced the development  of European art and design for centuries.

Oriental beauty in the form of porcelain flowers

A 3m long white porcelain mural sculpture will be mounted in the exhibition hall, together with a sea of flower inspired by blue and white porcelain, all handmade by nearly 100 students of Leo. The exhibition divided into 3 chambers:

Mirage of Far East: Time-travel to the 18^th century French manor via the immersive art installation leading the fantasy stories of Chinoiserie.

Pilgrimage of Porcelain: Discover the oriental aesthetics and craftsmanship of white porcelain and how it caused a sensation in Europe for centuries.

Eighty Shades of Blue: Explore how Blue-and-White porcelain become the mark of distinguished style and timeless elegance, from luxury fashion to interior modern design.

Workshop / activities

Chinoiserie Tableware Workshop

Date：7th – 10th July 2023

Venue：HK Visual Arts Centre

Time：1:00pm – 7:00pm

Cost: HKD680  ( Details)

Virtuoso Conversation

Date：7th – 10th July 2023

Venue：HK Visual Arts Centre

Time：1:00pm – 7:00pm

(Schedule will update on official website)

Free admission

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Leo Wong Chun-yin (b. 1981), born and raised in Hong Kong. Leo is a landscape designer of more than 20 years’ experience, with a Bachelor & Master Degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having discovered his passion in ceramic art, Leo has since then translated his knowledge of botany into floral-inspired sculptures.

Leo’s artworks attach great importance to the expression of vitality. He strives to present the subtle nuances, fragility and asymmetry in the natural world. Each porcelain flower is uniquely crafted by hand with profound knowledge and passion for botanicals to celebrate florals’ captivating allure and timeless beauty.

His artworks are collected by CG of the Netherlands in HK, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, The Peninsula Hong Kong. His artworks are available in Hong Kong M+ Museum and Lane Crawford.