50 x 50 cm | 20 x 20 in
2023
Here Cheng takes us into a more experimental realm with his treatment of Hong Kong's iconic skyline, creating a striking mirror composition that plays with our perception of urban space. The piece employs a bold geometric screen-printed pattern that shifts dramatically from cool blues to fiery oranges, creating an almost crepuscular atmosphere that suggests a city in transition. The mirrored cityscape, rendered in Cheng's characteristically precise linework, floats in the center like an architectural Rorschach test. This technical drawing acts as an anchor between two distinct color fields – the upper realm dominated by deep blues and purples, while the lower section blazes with warm oranges and magentas. The geometric grid pattern, reminiscent of both traditional Asian screen prints and modern digital pixels, creates a hypnotic rhythm that pulses through the composition. What's particularly compelling is how Cheng uses vertical lines that slice through the entire composition, creating a sense of movement and depth that counters the horizontal spread of the cityscape. These lines, some in striking pink, act as visual connectors that unite the various elements while simultaneously disrupting them. The clouds, rendered as white negative spaces against the geometric background, add an organic element that softens the rigid architectural forms and grid patterns. They drift through the composition like thoughts through a dream of the city, their shapes echoed in the reflective lower portion of the work
