The following museum collection will be shown and explained the difference between figurative, semi-figurative and abstract paintings. 

We will show you with our museum collections to explain, then we will discuss one of Chan’s artworks. 

Figurative paintings are descriptive and show the subjects’ true proportions. Viewers can identify the subjects from the painted forms.

Portrait of Dr David Wong Tai-wai_Chan Hoi-ying.png

Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA)

Portrait of Dr David Wong Tai-wai

Dragon Boat Race_Li Bing.png

Dragon Boat Race

Semi-figurative paintings show rather realistic images of the subjects, but they are not very descriptive. Viewers can still identify the subjects, but the image portrayed is between realistic and surrealistic.

Bird on a willow tree_Ding Yanyong.png

Bird on a willow tree

Can you identify the subjects? What are they?

Plover cove water scheme 2_Luis Chan.png

Plover Cove Water Scheme (2)

The painted images have no realistic reference. Viewers are not able to identify the subjects.

Hong Kong Series No.2_Fei Mingjie.png

Hong Kong Series No.2

Infinity landscape III_Chou Lok-wen, Irene.png

Infinity landscape III

Is this painting figurative, semi-figurative or abstract? 

Standards for Figurative, semi-figurative and abstract paintings