The University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong is honoured to present Abstract Evolutions: Sixty Years of Paintings by Fong ChungRay. The significance of Fong ChungRay’s artistic oeuvre lies in his contribution both to the global art scene and the representation of Chinese artistic traditions in late twentieth and early twentyfirstcentury California. As an ambassador for art, he has played a crucial role in fostering cultural exchange between China and the West, and his artworks have introduced richly diverse artistic traditions, techniques and themes to international audiences, promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

Fong was born in Henan province. He received his formal art training at the Political Cadre College in Taiwan and graduated in 1954. He developed his style while living and practising in California. Most of his works are abstract paintings that blend influences from Chinese and Western artistic traditions, creating a unique form of crosscultural expression. His works serve as a bridge between Eastern and Western art, incorporating elements from both traditions and fostering dialogue between various artistic perspectives. In so doing, he contributes to artistic innovation by bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas to the global art scene.

Chinese literati painting is distinguished by its emphasis on the expression of individual emotions, favouring the expression of a subject’s essence or spirit over a faithful imitation or realistic depiction. Fong’s affinity for the abstract could well be rooted in this literati tradition, where his inner experience and personal response to the world take precedence. His work reflects this philosophical underpinning, seeking to convey the underlying spirit of his subjects through abstraction rather than to depict their outward forms.

This approach aligns with abstract art’s emphasis on nonrepresentational forms, where artists aim to convey emotions, ideas or sensations through the use of colour, form and composition rather than depicting recognisable objects or scenes. Some Chinese artists who emerged in the midtwentieth century, such as Fong, emphasised individual expression and experimentation and further developed abstract art by incorporating elements of traditional Chinese painting into modern abstract approaches.

This anniversary exhibition and accompanying publication present a careful selection of Fong’s work tracing his artistic career and stylistic development over the last 60 years. It is a testament to the master’s contribution to latetwentiethcentury Chinese painting in a global context.

香港大學美術博物館榮幸呈獻「象外經心馮鍾睿60年繪畫」展覽。藝術家馮鍾睿的創作夙負盛名。二十世紀晚期至二十一世紀初馮氏以中國傳統為基礎的作品於美國加州藝壇獨樹一幟其畫風及作畫方式多元豐碩展現出他對融合中西藝術的永恆追求。馮氏以自身創作於海外積極傳播中華文化在推動跨文化交流方面扮演了重要的角色幫助國際社會更深入地理解和欣賞中國藝術。

馮鍾睿生於中國河南省曾於臺灣政工幹部學校藝術系接受正規藝術培訓並於1954年畢業。他在美國加州生活期間逐漸形成了獨特的個人風格。馮氏在這個時期的作品以抽象畫為主不僅形式跨越地域及文化傳統還展現出融和中西的創作理念。作為東西方藝術的橋樑馮氏的畫作體現了兩者豐富的內涵同時也促進了不同藝術源流之間的對話。透過這種方式他為全球藝術界帶來了嶄新的視野引領當今藝壇的持續革新。

中國傳統文人畫強調個人情感的表現而非準確地描繪眼前的事物。馮鍾睿的創作可能出自此傳統而傾向抽象化他注重彰顯個人的內心體驗以及他對天地萬物的體悟。他的畫風以深厚的哲學内涵為根基擅於超越物象的表面描寫使筆下的題材形簡神出。這種藝術觀與文人畫精神如出一轍為作品注入了無窮的意蘊。

抽象藝術的精髓在於非具象和非客觀的表現方式藝術家往往摒棄寫實的局限靈活運用色彩、形態及構圖來傳達情感、思想和感知並不著眼描繪可識別的物體或場景。這種美學精神可見於馮鍾睿的創作思維。正如其他二十世紀中期冒起的中國藝術家馮氏專注表達個人的觀點和内心世界並對視覺形式進行多種實驗性嘗試。這一輩畫家透過把傳統中國繪畫元素巧妙地融入現代抽象手法進一步推動了抽象藝術的發展。

是次富有紀念意義的展覽和相關出版物包括橫跨馮鍾睿整個創作生涯的多幅作品回顧他過去六十年的藝術成就和風格發展對這位大師在二十世紀晚期中國畫壇所作出的貢獻予以肯定。