Created By
Wai Hong
ink and color on silver Xuan paper on wood
Curator
Luke Chapman
This work stands as a significant piece within HONG Wai's "Hong Kong Express" series, drawing inspiration from the iconic Cantopop star Leslie Cheng and Hong Kong's golden era of popular culture. The piece's title year, 1997 Red, and its choice of a glamorous red sequined heel references both Mui's legendary stage presence and a pivotal moment in Hong Kong's history. Through HONG's sophisticated fusion of traditional Chinese ink techniques with contemporary subject matter, the work exemplifies her larger artistic exploration of cultural identity, femininity, and transformation. Like her celebrated lace calligraphy works, this piece demonstrates her unique ability to bridge East and West, tradition and modernity, creating a powerful dialogue about Hong Kong's cultural evolution.
"1997 Red" (2025) is a circular composition executed on silver Xuan paper, featuring a high-heeled shoe rendered in deep crimson and black ink. The piece employs traditional Chinese ink painting techniques to capture a contemporary subject, with the shoe's sequined surface meticulously detailed through dotted patterns and textural brushwork. Set against an ethereal grey void, the shoe appears to float, supported by delicate stilts that create a dramatic sense of suspension. The work includes traditional red seal marks and calligraphic characters that anchor it within Chinese artistic tradition, while the subject matter speaks to Cheng's coming out story and cultural evolution. The circular format, reminiscent of traditional Chinese round fans, creates an intimate viewing space that draws the viewer into contemplation of this quintessentially modern object.
Created By
Wai Hong
33 x 33 cm | 13 x 13 in
50 x 50 cm
