Shenzhen artist Tang Ping holds exhibition in Hong Kong

“Land of Hong Kong,” created by Tang Ping, is on display at “Mountains and Rivers of All Time: The Encounter — Tang Ping Art Exhibition” in Hong Kong. Photos courtesy of the exhibition organizers

Shenzhen artist Tang Ping, founder of Ink·Tang Studio and a council member of the Shenzhen Young Artists Association, is holding her exhibition “Mountains and Rivers of All Time: The Encounter — Tang Ping Art Exhibition” in Hong Kong.

Featuring visually powerful Chinese characters, the exhibition includes works spanning poetry, calligraphy, ink painting, and digital painting, drawing on 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

Scenes at the exhibition.

The exhibition began with Tang’s research into Hong Kong’s calligraphy history and local culture. She wrote Hong Kong place names in multiple scripts, including seal script, regular script, running script, clerical script, and Northern Wei style. 

Tang said that the exhibition curator Susanna Zhu knows Hong Kong’s local culture very well, especially its unique East-meets-West background, so she took Tang’s team to visit Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. 

Tang Ping (C) talks about her works at the exhibition.

Curator Susanna Zhu (R) introduces the works to visitors.

“Walking along Hollywood Road in Central and Wing Lok Street in the Western District, I was struck by the shop signs — especially neon signs — and the fonts used on building nameplates. The carved metal characters on some old buildings are almost artworks. For example, the famous sign for Yung Kee Restaurant was written by the late master Ou Jiangong. I could truly feel the creativity and passion of these artists for calligraphy,” Tang said.

She added that, when she first wrote a calligraphic work for “Kwun Tong,” she only knew it as an industrial area, so she used clerical script. After visiting, she learned that Kwun Tong has transformed into a neighborhood filled with homes, hotels, shops, and leisure facilities. In the future, it is expected to become the greenest city center in Hong Kong. 

“I therefore understood the new visual identity of Kwun Tong,” Tang said, noting that many places in Kwun Tong now use running script. “In the end, I wrote ‘Kwun Tong’ in running script.”

Tang Ping is writing a calligraphic work.

A scene at the exhibition.

Speaking about her calligraphic work “Heavenly Questions,” inspired by a long poem written by Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.), Tang said the text is a classic in calligraphy history — rich in imagination and open to interpretation. 

“Through ‘Heavenly Questions,’ I want people to feel Qu Yuan’s thoughts,” she said. “More importantly, I want to show the full breadth of calligraphy art through a grand work.”

“Heavenly Questions”

“Building My Hut Amid the Human World”

“Cold Night”

Creatively blending calligraphy, ink art, and sports fashion, the exhibition is held at ARTY:ACTIVE in Tai Kok Tsui, a community art space that encourages visitors to connect with nature through sports and a stylish lifestyle.

Tang also invited the Hong Kong Commercial Press to display books and art albums they have published on Hong Kong’s local culture, traditional Chinese culture and arts (especially calligraphy), and even sports-related materials. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to experience culture, art, calligraphy, sports, and sustainable living in a richer and more diverse way.

On June 18, Tang will discuss “Heavenly Questions” with designer Gary Tsang and Hanfu culture scholar Lai Xiaoning at 3-5 p.m. at ARTY:ACTIVE.

Painting “St. Ives”

The “Mountains and Rivers of All Time: The Encounter” new collection by ARTY:ACTIVE x Ink·Tang Studio.

Dates: Through June 22

Venue: ARTY:ACTIVE, Eltanin·Square Mile, West Kowloon, Hong Kong (香港西九龙利奥坊·晓岸ARTY:ACTIVE艺文空间)

MTR: Olympic Station