Be Still , 2017
Chinese Ink and Pigment on Rice Paper, 105 x 105 cm
About the artwork
Hong Zhu An incorporates the very traditional Chinese art form of calligraphy into his paintings by setting calligraphy script alongside swashes of muted colour. The use of calligraphy identifies the work as keeping to one of the highest canons of traditional Chinese painting. The application of colour in ink-wash, spreading across the canvas, lends a washed-out, watery appearance. This gives an impression of a continuous moving and receding of layers to and from the forefront - the sense of movement being a defining characteristic of traditional Chinese painting.
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.