Pictures that paint a thousand feelings
LEE Yuet-ming is secretive about her age, not her personal life.
When she escorts a visitor on a guided tour of The Ming Dynasty, a collection of her works in the Gallery Cafe of the Hong Kong Convention Centre, her words harken back to memories of the roller coaster rides of the heart. Feelings - love, sadness, joy, frustration - can be turned into something visually refreshing.
''This one I did when we met,'' she refers to her now ex-boyfriend. ''That one's right after a fight,'' explains the trained social worker, who quit evening art classes because she was bored and not in the least stimulated by the teachers.
Lee began toying with pastels, sometimes ink, nearly two years ago. Chalk is preferred because ''it keeps what I'm trying to express simple, direct and uncluttered.'' The portraits are of acquaintances and friends she met in the Vietnamese camps. A boyfriend is dressed in garb that reminds of an African tribal dancer. Sisters prompts her to talk about her own. Her style is whimsical and child-like.
Lee is the guest artist this month at Tea & Art, a series of art happenings in the Gallery Cafe. The programme's intention is to introduce young artists and soften the image of the Convention Centre, a structure more associated with money-making and deals, than artistic endeavour.
''I used to come here with friends for dinner or in the afternoon,'' adds Lee with a dazed smile. ''But I never dreamed of showing works here.'' The Ming Dynasty will be on display through August. The Gallery Cafe, Level 6, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
ONE source of inspiration for Ray Wooldridge is French and Italian theatre. But the graphic designer-turned-artist, from Kent, England, also acknowledges Art Nouveau and Chagall.
When you study the shades of blue, and grey, one thinks of Picasso's blue period. Judge for yourself.
Nine of his oil paintings are on display until August 19 at Art Collection Gallery, G/F, 17 Wyndham Street, Central.
CONTEMPORARY British artists put their opinions on politics and culture on canvas in Cries & Whispers, a collection of 22 works by 19 painters who have built up their reputation in the past decade.
The exhibition also includes a video documentary produced by the BBC, Two Painters Amazed, featuring Scottish artists Steven Campbell and Adrian Wiszniewski. Until August 22 in the Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wan Chai.
IN Chinese culture the lotus is regarded as a symbol of fruitfulness, purity and perfection. In Taoism, it signifies the eight Immortals.
A variety of Chinese painters, including Chen Jialing, Xiao Ping and Wang Dawen, share their vision in ''Summer Lotus: Images of the Lotus in paintings, carpets and textiles.'' The show, which opens on Monday at Plum Blossoms Gallery, Exchange Square One, runs until August 21.
INDIA'S passion for cricket became one woman's obsession.
Not only did the spirit of the game and the fans move the eye of Emma Levine, but the game allowed the 23-year old British photographer to spend months crossing India in its pursuit.
Her arresting black-and-white photos go beyond an athletic competition.
Her lens captures the crowds and those intense dark eyes of fans from Calcutta, Cuttack, Vishakapatnam and Jamshedpur, locations of the 1993 test series between England and India.
Height of Passion, a display of her photos, opens on August 18 at the Alliance Francaise, 128 Java Road, North Point.
