Lui Shou-Kwan
呂壽琨 (Lü Shoukun)
Born1919 (1919)
Guangzhou, China
Died1975 (aged 55–56)
Alma materGuangzhou University
MovementHong Kong New Ink Movement
AwardsMember of the British Empire (1971)

Lui Shou-Kwan (Chinese: 呂壽琨 (Lü Shoukun); 1919–1975)[1] was a Chinese painter, one of the most prominent ink painters of the 20th century and a founder of the Hong Kong New Ink Movement.[2]

Early life

Lui was born in Guangzhou.[3] His father, Lui Can Ming, was also a painter.[4]: 111  He studied economics at Guangzhou University.[4]: 112 

He moved to Hong Kong in 1948.[3] While there, he worked as an inspector for the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company until 1966.[4]: 112 

Art and academic career

Lui was active in organising Hong Kong art societies, alongside Chao Shao-an.[5]: 231  In 1956, he was a founding member of the Hong Kong Chung Kok Chinese Art Club.[4]: 112 

From 25 May to 4 July 1962, Lui's work was exhibited at the major exhibition, Hong Kong Art Today, at Hong Kong City Hall Museum and Art Gallery (later renamed Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1975). It was significant as the first exhibition with Hong Kong art as its theme.[6] The exhibition also reflected how naturalism in art had become passé and that abstract art was favoured at that moment in time.

He became an honorary adviser to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1962.[4]: 112  In 1964, his paintings appeared in the Hong Kong Museum of Art.[5]: 235 

He taught ink painting at the University of Hong Kong's Department of Architecture, and also taught at the Chinese University's Department of Extra-Mural Studies in 1966.[7] In 1968, he worked with his students to form the Tao Art Association.[4]: 112  Lui taught prominent artists like Wucius Wong and Gu Mei.[8][4]: 43 

Lui was one of those attempting to bring Western modernism into Chinese art, making note of how artists like Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell were inspired by Asian calligraphy.[9] Despite his admiration of modernism, he was also inspired by the traditional style of Huang Banruo (Wong Po-Yeh).[5]: 235 

In 1971, Lui was awarded an MBE for his contributions to the arts.[4]: 112  He is most known for his "Zen" series of abstract paintings, created from the 1960s until his death.[3] The paintings make use of philosophical and spiritual symbolism, showing Taoist and Buddhist motifs like the lotus and flames.[7]

Legacy

Lui's paintings have appeared in multiple auctions by Christie's.[10][11]

In 2018, Oxford's Ashmolean Museum hosted an exhibition on Lui, calling him "one of the most significant artists in Hong Kong during the mid-twentieth century".[12]

Selected works

Books

  • A Study of Chinese Paintings (1956)[7]

Paintings

References

  1. ↑ Brzezinski, Victoria (4 May 2019). "Collectors are keeping the historic Asian dynasties alive". The Times. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  2. ↑ Mok, Laramie (24 October 2017). "Ink tank: contemporary ink artists to invest in". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Chinese contemporary ink — the artists you should know | Christie's". www.christies.com. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sullivan, Michael (2006). Modern Chinese Artists: A Biographical Dictionary. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24449-8. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Andrews, Julia F.; Shen, Kuiyi (2012). The Art of Modern China. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-23814-5. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  6. ↑ 鄭, 蕾 (2016). 香港現代主義文學與思潮. 香港: 中華書局(香港)有限公司. ISBN 9888420828.
  7. 1 2 3 "Lui Shou-Kwan | Christie's". artist.christies.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  8. ↑ Tsui, Enid (27 March 2019). "Art Basel – good for China's art scene but bad for Hong Kong's?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. ↑ Tsui, Enid (24 March 2017). "Artist Hon Chi-fun, 95, on Hong Kong childhood and his big break". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Dongxi Studio: Chinese Paintings From a Distinguished Private Belgian Collection | Christie's". www.christies.com. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Christie's Hong Kong Spring 2015 Auctions - Chinese Contemporary Ink | Christie's". www.christies.com. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Lui Shou-Kwan Centenary Exhibition | Ashmolean Museum". www.ashmolean.org. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Chow, Vivienne (28 September 2015). "Ink artworks set for revival in Hong Kong with series of exhibitions, fairs and auctions". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
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