Hong Kong Express Dream Lover (系列– 夢中人)

Curator

Luke Chapman

What we're witnessing here is something truly transcendent. Hong Wai has taken the ancient art of calligraphy and turned it completely on its head, but in the most respectful and profound way imaginable. The triptych format – it's like a visual haiku. Each character seems to float, to breathe with its own rhythm. What's absolutely fascinating is how she's managed to maintain the dynamic energy of the brush stroke while working with such a structurally complex material. The lace's floral patterns create this incredible secondary narrative – like whispered poems beneath the bold statements of the characters themselves. The shadows cast by these pieces are not mere afterthoughts; they're integral to the work's meaning, creating this gorgeous dualistic interpretation of reality and dreams. The use of negative space here is particularly sophisticated. The way the lace simultaneously defines and dissolves the characters speaks to the ephemeral nature of dreams and desire. It's this constant dance between presence and absence that really gets under your skin. The delicate tension between the masculine authority of traditional calligraphy and the feminine associations of lace creates this electric cultural dialogue that's absolutely contemporary while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. It's like watching tradition and innovation slow dancing in the moonlight. This piece doesn't just hang on the wall – it hovers between worlds, between traditions, between dreams and waking. Truly masterful.