Renowned Hong Kong artist, Gaylord Chan takes center stage at the Chantal Miller Gallery in “Never End: The Art and Life of Gaylord Chan.”
One of Hong Kong’s beloved original painters, Gaylord Chan (1925-2020) is known for his unique abstract language of bold colors and rustic forms that portray imagery from everyday life, science and metaphysics, and the contemporary human condition. He made his start at the age of 42 when he enrolled in an extra-mural studies art course at the University of Hong Kong in 1968. An artist determined to refine his art, Chan worked as an engineer by day while experimenting with his craft and eventually developed his unique style.
Presented by the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the new exhibition is a celebration of the artist’s legacy and artistry and is the first retrospective since the artist’s passing in 2020. It features over 100 valuable artworks collected from the artist’s estate, The Hong Kong Museum of Art, The Hong Kong Heritage Museum, and nine other overseas private collections, organized by guest curator Joyce Hei-ting Wong with the assistance of exhibition consultant Josephine Chow Suk Fan and Hain Yoon, Assistant Curator of Asia Society Hong Kong Center.
A Walk Down Memory ‘Art’ Lane
Presented in four sections, the exhibit takes viewers on a journey through Chan’s professional life, examining his creative process and unique practices through artworks, personal photos, and never-before-seen historical footage.
“The Grammar of Painting” looks back on Chan’s life as an artist and educator, and features works spanning from the 1960s to 2000s exploring the artist’s visual language.
Section 2, “Glyphs of Innocence and Experience,” centers on Chan’s symbolism and examines his signature motifs, his worldview, and how the artist was inspired by indigenous artifacts from various cultures.
In “Seeing Between the Colors,” audiences are given a glimpse into Chan’s technical process as it highlights his impressive use of color and layering. Featuring pieces created after his painting residency at the New York School of Visual Arts in 1992, this section will also display some of the artist’s lesser-known poetry.
“From Canvas to Screen” unveils over 30 never-before-exhibited artworks, most of which are digital drawings by the artist after he transitioned to using Microsoft Paint. The section focuses on how he adapted his practice from analog to digital.
Other Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition will publish a bilingual catalog book featuring over 100 color reproductions of all exhibited artworks, personal photos, and archival memorabilia. It will also include text insights into the late artist by the exhibition curator, Joyce Hei-ting Wong; Ian Findlay-Brown, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and Anthony Yung, Senior researcher at the Asia Art Archive.
Guests can also enjoy an array of educational program offerings from art workshops for children and the elderly to monthlysalons and AI interactive tours. For the complete list of programs and workshop dates, click here.
The exhibition is free and will take place at the Chantal Miller Gallery from June 19 to September 29, 2024. For more details, visit their website.
Location: Chantal Miller Gallery, Asia Society Hong Kong Center 9, Justice Drive, Admiralty Hong Kong
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday (11 AM to 6 PM), Last Thursday of Every Month (11 AM to 8 PM). Closed on Mondays.
