Weaving Intimacy: Body Lines by MAN Fung-yi

Publisher: Galerie Ora-Ora—Sept 2009 (48 pages)
Designed by: Rebecca Liu

Preface

Henrietta Tsui
Founder of Galerie Ora-Ora

Since 2008, Ora-Ora has been working assiduously to build a series of contemporary artists from the ‘New Traditions’ genre. Our desire is to promote this genre, which is infused with strong sense of ‘Chineseness’, or Chinese cultural artistic elements, as we envisage these artists and form will become an important growing force in Chinese Contemporary Art. To this endeavor, we continuously seek out artists who put their skills in action together with unique creative pursuits. These artists have endless interesting ways of exploring and developing this ‘New Traditions’ genre; their expeditions have so far included preservation, revitalization, revolution, expansion, challenge and even critique of traditions and heritage in the name of ‘Art Now’ creation within a global context.

From a more cultural angle, it is interesting to note that there is vast diversity in the backgrounds of individual Chinese artists, including those from Hong Kong. From their differences in upbringing, exposure and training, Chinese artists express themselves in their unique styles and language, with their own yearn to investigate and research different tangents without set rules or guidelines. Amongst the works in the “New Traditions” movement, some artists work more to propagate the traditional techniques in art, while others such as Hong Kong-based Man Fung-yi, focuses on inheritance and reinvigoration of the ‘Chinese-ness’ spirit, through working openly and creatively on freeing herself from the rigidity of conventional media.

When one appreciates Man’s works, there are at least two perspectives to be explored. First, she interprets traditional Chinese philosophy through the modern China expose. From her contemporary works, one would quickly realize that Man greatly values Chinese traditions and has a strong sense of urgency to prevent loss of her heritage in our ever-changing society. Second, her works often represent the femininity of a woman in a subtle yet bold manner. She often expresses both the joy and the need for soul cultivation through a series of repeating meditative actions, such as the repetitive drawing of patterns for each of her sculpture in this new clothing sculpture series. As a family-focused career woman, Man’s creative expressions are often initiated from her inner-self and inspired by her loved ones, such as her son or husband. She does not really care to criticize or challenge the changing society, but is more interested in getting in touch with her own being. Her pregnancy experience not only added a role from wife to mother, it also gave her great motivation in the founding of her signature: the burnt holes by incense in a circular pattern, a way she found peace in doing while bearing her son. One can probably get insights to her creative expressions and directions by following her artistic development vis-a-vis her changing life cycle.

Her new series, Weaving Intimacy (Body Lines) brings her artistic career to new heights. The contrasts between the delicacy and softness of worn clothing in her family wardrobe and the rigidity and hard texture of steel and brass give amusing impact to the pieces. From her works, I can sense so much out of life, including love, warmth, familiarity, memories, joy, heritage, and fun. She attempts to transform her sweet memories into a form of sculpture, and to share and express herself using them as her representatives. She insists that all of her sculptures are one-of-a-kind artworks with no edition, which is, rare in the sculpture market. Only those with immense persistence and confidence in her creative ability would likely do that. To me, Man is a perfectionist who works diligently, and also enjoys the process of creation. Self-motivated and driven, Man would always continue to challenge her own limits to create something that represent her state of mind.

The publication “Weaving Intimacy: Body Lines by MAN Fung-yi” can be purchased at Galerie Ora-Ora. Please contact the gallery for more information.