Created By
Hong Wai
Lace calligraphy sculpture
Curator
Luke Chapman
What's particularly striking is how HONG has transformed this traditionally feminine medium into a meditation on contemporary materiality. The work oscillates between decoration and deconstruction, between the domestic and the divine. Within the context of contemporary Asian art practices, this piece positions itself at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and conceptual innovation. The black lace, traditionally associated with both mourning and sensuality in Western contexts, takes on new resonance through HONG's Eastern philosophical lens. This is not merely a hanging textile – it's a spatial intervention that demands contemplation of the void, of the spaces between threads, of the dialogue between light and darkness. The work demonstrates how negative space can be as eloquent as physical form.
In the "One Life One Dream" series work titled "My Company" (蕾絲書法 - 巴黎一字一生系列 – 伴), the Chinese character 伴 carries the meaning of "companion" or "to accompany." The character embodies notions of togetherness, support, and shared presence, which resonates deeply with the series' theme connecting life and dreams as continuous, intertwined experiences. In this work, the traditional form and meaning of 伴 are reinterpreted through the delicate and intricate medium of lace (蕾絲), merging calligraphic tradition with textile art. The lace evokes both fragility and strength, presence and absence, thus enriching the character’s symbolism as more than just a word but a lived and tactile meditation on companionship within the flow of life and dreams. The concept of 蕾絲書法 (lace calligraphy) fuses the aesthetic and conceptual discipline of Chinese calligraphy—where each stroke is governed by rules and imbued with expressive energy—with the material softness and intricacy of lace. This contrapuntal blend creates a sculptural, almost spiritual reading of the character, exploring light and shadow, void and form, presence and absence simultaneously. The character 伴 here transcends its literal meaning to become an emblem of enduring connection, delicately held within the poetic gesture of lace calligraphy. This fusion aligns with contemporary Asian art practices by bridging traditional craftsmanship with conceptual innovation, inviting contemplation of both the visual form and cultural depths of the Chinese character within the textured fabric of modern artistic expression.
Created By
Hong Wai
83 x 50 cm | 33 x 20 in
Stretched lace covered canvas
10 cm | 4 in
2024
