Michael Ho, Chris Huen Sin Kan, Timothy Lai, Su Yu-Xin
May 31 – Sep 9, 2023
Opening: Tuesday, May 30, 6pm – 8pm
White Cube Hong Kong is pleased to present New Moroism, a group exhibition which brings together four artists who seek to expand the parameters and ideation of figuration in painting.
Part of an emerging generation of artists whose roots are in Asia, Michael Ho, Chris Huen Sin Kan, Timothy Lai and Su Yu-Xin reflect a new approach and sensibility, responsive to trans-regional shifts and migration. Embracing the concept of ambiguity within their paintings, the artists each explore Moroism, an aesthetic paradigm which is derived from the ‘mōrōtai’ style (mōrō literally translated as ‘vague’ or ‘indistinct’) that emerged in Japan of the late Meiji era (1868–1912), also found as a pictorial intention originating in traditional Chinese painting theory.
Determined by the artists’ shared East Asian heritage, the works in this exhibition are grounded in personal narrative.
Chris Huen Sin Kan’s large-scale oil paintings feature a recurring cast of characters including his wife, son, daughter and dogs. Painted directly from memory, the artist places life’s fleeting moments at the core of his work.
Incorporating a palette of gradated skin tones and elongated, distorted brushstrokes, Timothy Lai examines the ambiguity and tension of his pan-Asian identity and considers the increasingly complex interplay between nationality and race within today’s global society.
Su Yu-Xin’s dynamic landscape paintings are a testament to her meticulous practice. Inspired by the traditional ‘boneless’ method of Chinese brush painting, the artist creates her own hand-made pigments from collected natural materials, which she applies to the surface in layered washes to construct nebulous, multi-perspective horizons.
Employing a similarly rigorous process, Michael Ho adopts a unique painting technique which involves pushing paint from the back of the canvas and superimposing images on the front. A second-generation Chinese immigrant, this method serves as a parallel to Ho’s quest for duality.
Articles
Cerith Wyn Evans / Feature / January 20, 2022
Bruce Nauman / Feature / May 2, 2021
Virginia Overton / Feature / October 9, 2020
Park Seo-Bo / Review / December 27, 2018
Sarah Morris / Feature / June 15, 2018
Rachel Kneebone / Feature / August 7, 2017
Danh Vō / Review / February 1, 2017
50 Connaught Road, Central
(852) 2592 2000
Email
Web
Tu-Sa 11am to 7pm
The first of White Cube’s galleries to be located outside of the UK, White Cube Hong Kong is situated at 50 Connaught Road, in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district. Since its inception in March 2012, the gallery has hosted a varied programme of exhibitions including Gilbert & George, Anselm Kiefer, Damien Hirst and Cerith Wyn Evans. The gallery provides an interior exhibition space of 550 m2 (6000 sq ft) which is set over two floors and has a ceiling height of over 4.5 metres. The building was designed by London based architects Maybank and Matthews.