Created By
Wai Hong
Ink and color on golden Xuan paper on wood
Curator
Luke Chapman
In this evocative tribute to Leslie Cheung, HONG Wai crafts a sophisticated meditation on memory, identity, and cultural iconography. The reference to 1997 – a pivotal year in Cheung's career – and the choice of a red shoe creates an immediate connection to the legendary performer's impact on Hong Kong's cultural landscape. Through this piece, HONG demonstrates her exceptional ability to weave together personal and cultural histories, creating work that speaks simultaneously to tradition and transformation, celebration and remembrance. The result is both a tribute to a cultural icon and a broader commentary on the evolution of Hong Kong's cultural identity.
This circular composition presents a single T-strap high heel shoe in deep burgundy tones against a warm golden background. The shoe, meticulously rendered with an intricate pattern of geometric shapes creating a lace-like texture, appears suspended in a moment of transformation. The work includes traditional Chinese calligraphic elements noting 1997 Red and the artist's seal on the left side. Most distinctively, the shoe dissolves into three vertical ink drips, creating a haunting metamorphosis from solid to liquid form. The piece is executed in the tondo format, echoing the traditional presentation of Chinese circular fan paintings. The artist's technical approach is particularly compelling. By rendering this Western fashion accessory through the lens of traditional Chinese painting techniques, HONG creates a cultural synthesis that mirrors Cheung's own artistic legacy. The melting effect, where the shoe appears to dissolve into ink drips, suggests both the persistence and the fragility of memory and cultural significance.
Created By
Wai Hong
33 x 33 cm | 13 x 13 in
50 x 50 cm
2025
