This catalogue is produced on the occasion of the exhibition 'Chong Siew Ying: INFINITY' held at Valentine Willie Fine Art, Singapore from 6-29 May 2011.
'Valentine Willie Fine Art Singapore presents the latest body of work by celebrated Malaysian painter Chong Siew Ying. Infinity is an interrogation of landscape, memory, space and place. Informed by both traditional Chinese ink painting and European sensibilities Siew Ying creates imagined charcoal mindscapes that play with texture and formal composition to communicate the infinite qualities of landscape. By embracing the limitless symbolic and physical possibilities of the land, cinematic vistas unfold connecting intangible feeling to the world around us. These sites of meditation, inspiration and drama present a stage for philosophical consideration of Man’s place and purpose in the world.
'In this recent body of work the artist showcases her commitment to process and technique. Created in both her Paris and Kuala Lumpur studios, large scale paper-mounted canvases were attached to her studio walls for the artist to draw her charcoal forms. Once complete and laden with grainy textures from her plaster backdrops, she then placed her work on the floor to layer it with a clear emulsion. Whilst wet she sweeps brushes across the surface and immediately pulls and lifts the canvas merging charcoal and emulsion. The result of this labour-intensive process is an animated and atmospheric surface that has similarities to the fluid and meticulous strokes of ink painting.
'The influence of this traditional medium and its philosophical subject matter acts as a type of image inventory for Siew Ying to create her own imagined scenes and compositions, whether isolated trees, grand seascapes or vast skies. These locations then become places of contemplation for religious and intellectual philosophies. However, the universal human response and connection to the natural environment creates common feelings of nostalgia as well as experiences of the sublime and epic. Triggering memories of places we have been, dreamt of or simply yearn to experience Infinity therefore represents the power of nature to prompt self introspection and notions of solitude, conflict, freedom and ultimately peace.' (From Valentine Willie Fine Art)
With artist biography.
'Valentine Willie Fine Art Singapore presents the latest body of work by celebrated Malaysian painter Chong Siew Ying. Infinity is an interrogation of landscape, memory, space and place. Informed by both traditional Chinese ink painting and European sensibilities Siew Ying creates imagined charcoal mindscapes that play with texture and formal composition to communicate the infinite qualities of landscape. By embracing the limitless symbolic and physical possibilities of the land, cinematic vistas unfold connecting intangible feeling to the world around us. These sites of meditation, inspiration and drama present a stage for philosophical consideration of Man’s place and purpose in the world.
'In this recent body of work the artist showcases her commitment to process and technique. Created in both her Paris and Kuala Lumpur studios, large scale paper-mounted canvases were attached to her studio walls for the artist to draw her charcoal forms. Once complete and laden with grainy textures from her plaster backdrops, she then placed her work on the floor to layer it with a clear emulsion. Whilst wet she sweeps brushes across the surface and immediately pulls and lifts the canvas merging charcoal and emulsion. The result of this labour-intensive process is an animated and atmospheric surface that has similarities to the fluid and meticulous strokes of ink painting.
'The influence of this traditional medium and its philosophical subject matter acts as a type of image inventory for Siew Ying to create her own imagined scenes and compositions, whether isolated trees, grand seascapes or vast skies. These locations then become places of contemplation for religious and intellectual philosophies. However, the universal human response and connection to the natural environment creates common feelings of nostalgia as well as experiences of the sublime and epic. Triggering memories of places we have been, dreamt of or simply yearn to experience Infinity therefore represents the power of nature to prompt self introspection and notions of solitude, conflict, freedom and ultimately peace.' (From Valentine Willie Fine Art)
With artist biography.
Access level
Onsite
publisher
Location code
MON.CSY3
Language
English
Keywords
Publication/Creation date
2011
No of pages
32
ISBN / ISSN
9789839389401
No of copies
2
Content type
artist monograph,
catalogue
Chapter headings
Journey into the Mind's Heart - Eva MCGOVERN
Chong Siew Ying: Infinity
What does this mean?
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