About the artwork
Words, like a waterfall, cascade down in intricate vertical streams, forming a translucent screen that masks the spectral motif of the lotuses - which are constructed by loose, emotive brush strokes. The lotus flower is a prominent icon in Chinese culture and Buddhism, signifying purity that is born out of mire and is a heavily featured image in Chinese ink paintings both ancient and contemporary. In this work, Hong uses a wet-on-wet technique resulting in soft, diffused lines that seem to be floating in a layer of mist. The text integrates itself into the flattened, two-dimensional plane, merging and becoming one with the landscape, alluding perhaps to the important process of achieving a tranquil, meditative state of mind. This work is part of Hong's more recent series of paintings, featuring an increase in the prominence of calligraphy and text.
About the artist
Chinese-born Hong Zhu An (b. 1955) is one of the finest artists in Singapore today. Trained under famous art scholar Wang Zidou at the Shanghai Art and Craft Institute, the artist is proficient in both Chinese and Western Art. Painting in acrylic and ink, his works exude a serenity and energy that calms the mind and offers insightful abstract interpretation alongside enchanting visuals. Constantly growing in both skill and prestige, he has exhibited his works in South East Asia, the USA and Australia and has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the UOB Painting of the Year ‘Grand Award’. His works have been collected by major institutions such as the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Princeton University Museum in New York, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Singapore Art Museum.