A Hong Kong exhibition traces beloved painting genre’s journey through time and strong links to France. The focus is on floral still life paintings as part of the city’s annual French May Arts Festival.
Attendees at the May 8 opening of Eternity in Transience included Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macao Christile Drulhe and Mignonne Cheng, co-chairman of the board of the French May Arts Festival.
At the exhibition is a 1930s masterpiece by Sanyu (Chang Yu), a Chinese artist who moved to Paris in 1920 and joined artists like Italy’s Amadeo Modigliani, Russia’s Marc Chagall, and Japan’s Tsuguharu Fujita in enriching the diverse cultures and creative life of the French cultural capital.
A highlight of the exhibition is Sanyu's precious early work from the 1930s — Compote of Fruits, Basket of Flowers, and Cup and Saucer — showcasing the innovative evolution of this genre in the 20th century.
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The artworks also bridge historical and contemporary interpretations of the still life genre by connecting to 17th-century Flemish painter Wouter Mertens and juxtaposing with over 10 works by French modernist masters Bernard Cathelin, Pierre Boncompain, and Michel Henry.
The exhibition also features contemporary artists such as French-Syrian painter Ziad Dalloul, France’s Denis Laget, Japan’s Atsushi Suwa and Takanobu Kobayashi, Canada’s Sky Glabush, and South Korea’s Choi Soo Jung.
Established in 1993 in Hong Kong, French May has expanded to become one of the largest cultural events in Asia and an iconic part of Hong Kong's cultural scene that reaches over 200,000 visitors each year
“Spanning eras and styles from artists with very different backgrounds, this exhibition invites us to appreciate the still life genre's ongoing vitality and capacity to expand creative possibilities,” said Drulhe in her address at the occasion.
She noted that by bringing together artists such as the Flemish outer Mertens from the 16th century, French contemporary painters such as Bernard Cathelin, Pierre Boncompain or the Franco-Chinese artist Sanyu among others, “viewers can feel the eternal power of beauty in arts which keeps reinventing itself without denying the cross-influences from different periods and cultural backgrounds”.
Cheng said this exhibition “celebrates the timeless beauty of the still life genre. With pieces from different centuries and styles, we're invited to appreciate the genre, even in the simplest of everyday objects.”
Catherine Kwai, founder and CEO of Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, who organized the exhibition, said, “We are grateful to be the associated project for the French May Art Festival, hoping the collaboration will enhance more cultural dialogue between France and the Hong Kong SAR.”
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Still life—known as “nature morte” in French—has evolved from mere realistic depiction to a medium for artistic contemplation and expression, according to the exhibition organizers. Contemporary artists have further expanded the genre to integrate emotions, philosophical thoughts, and artistic concepts, they added.
Eternity in Transience runs from May 2 until June 29 at Hong Kong’s Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery.
Established in 1993 in Hong Kong, French May has expanded to become one of the largest cultural events in Asia and an iconic part of Hong Kong's cultural scene that reaches over 200,000 visitors each year.
This year’s festival will see more than 100 programs presented across April, May and June.
