Artist Introduction

Wucius Wong, born in 1936 in China, was a student of Lui Shou-kwan. Wong focuses on the study of Chinese paintings and explores the innovative possibilities of Chinese ink paintings. From 1961 to 1965, he studied art and design in the United States, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in art. After he returned to Hong Kong, he actively promoted the New Ink Movement and worked in the field of design education. In 2007, Wong was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government. In 2017, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council awarded Wong the Life Achievement Award in recognition of his profound contributions to art development and his influence in the art field in Hong Kong.

Wong’s ink paintings bear the key tradition characteristics of Chinese ink paintings. Adopting the style of landscape painters in the Northern Song dynasty as his major reference, Wong creates powerful and contrasting visual effects through variations in ink intensity. At the same time, he incorporates Western painting and design elements in his works. With reference to the design concepts of the Bauhaus, he makes use of composition techniques such as framing, segregation vertical or horizontal placement, and geometric elements, like overlapping straight lines. His paintings are dramatic, emphasizing a light source and the contrast between brightness and darkness. His works have created a new chapter in modern Chinese ink paintings.