Online Exhibition

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH NATURE | EDDIE LIU solo exhibition

Exhibition Dates 11/ 05 / 2021 - 08 / 06 / 2021

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Interview with Eddie Lui

Illuminati Fine Art is pleased to present "Close Encounter with Nature" solo exhibition by Eddie Lui from 11 May to 8 June 2021. The exhibition showcases over 30 pieces of works by different mediums, including ink and colour on paper, acrylic on canvas, ceramic and prints.

Eddie Lui has long been an active member of the modern art circle. His vigorous energy and enthusiasm in his endless artistic exploration are admirable. Since the beginning of his devoted study in art in the late 1960s, Lui has never stopped pursuing his passion for art-making. Lui’s artistic style epitomises a confluence of Chinese and Western characteristics with prolific imageries.

The use of Chinese ink and blank space are fused into the Western technique of sketching, to create impeccable compositions, which constitutes his unparalleled artistic style. In the past fifty years, Lui’s artistic journey has always been a vigorous and lively one. Each of his exhibition has been fully recognized and highly praised by artists, art critics, and academia.

17 works from the "WFH Series" and "TW Series" are featured in this exhibition. The "TW Series" was created during Lui’s stay in Taiwan, while the "WFH Series" was created in Hong Kong during the pandem- ic. Both series were exhibited at Guangdong Museum of Art in 2020. Each painting demonstrates a renewed understanding of point, line, piled ink, texture stroke among other techniques in Chinese painting.

A unique view on the ways of living is crucial in giving the artist the power to transcend the normative idea of ‘painting’ and to reach an aesthetic judgement derived from an unprecedented comprehension of the union of Matter and Man. Each work becomes almost like a unique micro-universe that contains profound artistic and poetic connotations. To put it simply, Lui’s body of work manifests his view on the vastness and infinite potentials found in the trifles of everyday life.

The green pear in "WFH Series - Green Pear" is identifiable from a distance. The fruit is so tempting that its ‘ripeness’ and ‘fragrance’ observed from its appearance almost make one drool. With a close look, the rock-like texture on its top creates an illusion as if the fruit pops out from the paper, and the overall composition is backed by its fleshy bottom that stands like a reversed majestic ridge. When looked even closer, the myriad dots and piles of ink painted with Lui’s skilful technique create layers of exquisite contour that constitute a serene and graceful look to the still life. Such a capacity of finding greatness in trivial matters of Lui’s is remarkable.

Lui kindly offers to also display his three early prints "Yellow Flower", "Dragon Fruit" and "Lotus Love" from the 1970s and 1990s. "Colour Scheme and Print-mak- ing Process Diagram of Dragon Fruit" demonstrates the process of making a variety of prints, allowing the audience to take a glimpse into their production processes.

Both "Rising From the Ashes - Inspired by the Children" and "Vegetable Garden Album of 20" from the 1990s are large-scale works. The eight art prints, four pottery paintings and two pottery sculptures made in a firewood kiln in Foshan, China from 2018 to 2019 have made their debut in this exhibition.

Over 30 works spanning from the 1970s to the present, encompassing ink, acrylic, pottery, prints, among other media and artistic techniques are on view. The selection of Lui’s works establishes the context of the exhibition which will enable the audience to appreciate the philosophical ideas in Lui’s artistic exploration in many ways. In this regard, the gallery space has thus morphed into an epitome of the artist's many years of creation.

Exhibition Reservation

Artist Biography

Eddie currently lives in Hong Kong, practicing visual art, 3-dimensional design and working as a visual art consultant.

In 1969, Eddie pursued his art studies by enrolling in a three-year certificate programme in visual arts, uniquely structured and administered by a Town Planner and Visual Arts Educator, Mr. Jon A. Prescott (1925–1994) for the Extramural Studies Department (now SPACE, the School of Professional and Continued Education) at The University of Hong Kong.

He then further studied a programme specialising in contem- porary ink art at the same institution. That timely involvement in the developmental path of the contemporary ink movement,pioneered by Hong Kong’s leading ink painters, furnished himwith a multifaceted approach towards the realisation of his unique direction in contemporary ink culture.

Eddie’s first solo ink painting exhibition, which was in 1973, was the catalyst to establishing his artistic career and taking a leading role in developing contemporary art in Hong Kong. That same year he co-initiated the starting up of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Society in partnership with other major players passionately preaching and spreading a unique ink culture.

So began Eddie’s double-life of banker by day and art promot- er and practitioner in every spare moment. His managerial and operations exposure with international financial institutions enhanced his career path and enriched his working life; it had in many ways expanded his vision on the role of art in the nature of life.

His artworks are included in the permanent collection of the Douro Museum, Alijo, Portugal (2019); the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art of the St. Petersburg State University (2019); the International Printmaking Centre of the National Taiwan Normal University (2019); the Muzeul de Arta Cluj-Napoca, Romania (2018); the Xishuangbanna Museum of Ethnology, Jinghong City, Yunnan, China (2018); the Gao Xiaohua Museum of Fine Arts, the Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu City, Szechuan, China (2017); Kinmen County Ceramics Factory, Kinmen Islands, Taiwan (2010); Jingdezhen Ceramic Art Museum, Jiangxi Province, China (2004); the Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China (2001); Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation, Langkawi, Malaysia (2000); the Ceramic Art Museum, Foshan, China (2000); Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, Alberta, Canada (1993).

Besides, his works had been widely acquired in Hong Kong, including the M+, Hong Kong; The Hong Kong Museum of Art; The Hong Kong Heritage Museum; University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Arts Centre; The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; The MTR Corporation, Hong Kong; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Hongkong Land Limited.