The HKUST Library and the Institute for Advanced Study present

This exhibition, jointly organized by the Lee Shau Kee Library and the Institute for Advanced Study of HKUST, displays over 60 Chinese ink paintings of two renowned members of Lingnan School of Painting, Mr. Chow Chian-chiu and Mrs. Chow Leung Chen-ying. The works feature landscapes, flowers, birds, insects, and more.

Mr. Chow Chian-chiu (1910-2006) was born in Panyu, Guangdong. In 1933, he began to study painting with the Lingnan master, Mr. Zhao Shao-ang. Mr. Chow also studied Classical Chinese literature with an eminent scholar, Mr. Huang Zhu-qu. Mrs. Chow Leung Chen-ying (1921-2005) was born in Guangzhou. In 1942, she graduated from Guilin Art Teachers College. The two married in 1944; after their marriage they often traveled about, sketching natural scenes, and held joint art exhibitions.

After moving to Hong Kong in 1949, they established the International Studio of Chinese Arts, where they taught students from numerous national origins. They also wrote “Easy Ways to do Chinese Painting”, which created a practical method to teach non-Chinese how to do Chinese painting. During this period they also held exhibitions around the world.

The Chows moved to the United States in 1968 and in 1969 founded the Chow Studio in Miami, Florida. There, they continued to teach students until they retired in 2004. While they lived in the U.S. they taught more than 3,000 students from 44 different countries and were invited by more than 20 leading universities to give lectures and demonstrations, as well as exhibitions. They were also repeatedly invited home to China to give exhibitions. They raised and donated funds to build homes for the elderly and a cultural and sports center in their hometown, sparing no effort to promote culture and education.

The exhibition is titled “Rendering Nature” because Mr. and Mrs. Chow enjoyed picturesque natural themes. Their works’ bright colors, compact layout, and color-ink transfer make them unique. Mr. Chow Chian-chiu was good at bringing poetry to his painting; in the early years showing talent at painting birds, before later becoming more committed to landscape. Mrs. Chow so exceled at painting flowers and calligraphy that she got the nickname “Hibiscus Leung”. Many of their works were made cooperatively, with mutual contrasts complementing each other.

The Chows achieved widely; renowned in the Chinese and foreign art scene for their teaching, art works, and award winning books. Their works and books are collected by museums, universities and private collectors.

We would like to express our enormous gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Chow’s son, Professor Chow Chee-woo and their daughter-in-law Mrs. Chow Po-shan Grace, who donated all the works exhibited here to HKUST; so that HKUST faculty and students may always have the opportunity to appreciate the works of two masters and enjoy the essence of the Lingnan School of painting.

Demonstration/Talk on Lingnan School of Chinese Painting

Date:18 March 2015
Time:12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue:Ping Yuan and Kinmay W Tang Gallery
Demonstrator:Mr Lam Wu Fui, Artist
Speaker:Dr Anna Kwong, Program Director, HKUST Center for the Arts
Language:Cantonese (Supplemented with English)
Register:All are welcome. Library Event Registration  for HKUST staff and students only (Closed)
Enquiries: 2358 6710

In the early 20th century, the three masters of the Lingnan School, namely “Two Gaos and One Chen” (i.e. Gao Jianfu, Gao Qifeng and Chen Shuren), promoted revolutionary thoughts to bring Chinese painting into a new era and became major representatives of New Guohua Movement. Stylistically, the Lingnan School advocated a synthesis of Chinese and Western painting and of traditional and modern means. By absorbing techniques and aesthetic ideals from Japanese and European art, they brought Chinese painting to a high status with international recognition.

The demo/talk by Hong Kong renowned Lingnan School representative, Mr. Lam Wu Fui, will illustrate the basic characteristics of the School, how the new style successfully blended the spirit with the realistic form, the depiction of details with the expression of emotion, and the abstract beauty of brushwork with the application of brilliant colour.

Students will get course hours after attending the Talk for fulfillment of Healthy Lifestyle (HLTH1010) Course Requirements.