Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA)

Born in China in 1933, Van Lau graduated from the Department of Fine Arts in National Taiwan Normal University in 1958. After moving to Hong Kong in 1960, he became actively engaged in local art activities. In 1963, he organized the Circle Art Group to promote modern art in Hong Kong. Van has been commissioned to create large scale sculptures for various public spaces since the 1960s. In 1999, he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in acknowledgement of his contributions in the local cultural and art sectors.

Van uses geometric shapes and combines Chinese and Western styles to create sculptures. For his themes, he likes to use symbolic objects, such as flowers, birds, insects, fish, pomegranates and bamboo. He is good at employing the visual elements of Chinese antiquities, as well as the ideas, beliefs, philosophy and emotions of Chinese literati in his works. 

Artist Introduction

In this slideshow, we will explain the creation process of Van’s sculpture for City University of Hong Kong. 

The Creation Process

Demonstration of creating a bamboo leaf

Your Art-making Activity: Trial Model of a Sculpture

Resource Kit Overview

Video Viewing and appreciation

Let’s explore the process before making your little sculpture. 

Introduction to Art-making Process in Sculpture

Based on the HKMoA collection, this series, ‘In Touch with Hong Kong Artists’, provides education materials and activity sets designed with the aim to raise the interest in artists and art and culture in Hong Kong. In this resource kit, Van Lau will be introduced.

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

In Touch with Hong Kong Artists: Van Lau

Artist Introduction