LOCAL ARTIST Wong Kin (above) strives to define the true meaning of art. First he says it's all about sharing. Then he says it is not something to show off. Later, he claims it's a concept that everyone should adopt. 'It's the foundation for everyone no matter what job you do. Art is about producing and creating. Even if you are an accountant or a businessman, the process from collecting information to presentation is already an art form,' says the 33-year-old. Wong aims to share his view of the world, life and art in his solo show Illumination - Drawing and Installation Exhibition at Agnes b Librairie Galerie in Central. This is Wong's first solo exhibition since he returned from doing his masters in painting at Wimbledon School of Art in the United Kingdom at the end of 2001. He believes art, memories and feelings can be transferred into portable objects, and that art can be appreciated anywhere. He paints landscapes on the inside of paper bags and on folded paper which can be stored in matchboxes. 'I'm always curious about what is inside a paper bag or a box, and [enjoy] the excitement of carrying things around. 'I love travelling and landscapes, and I studied painting. I wonder if it is possible to give these traditional elements a contemporary look,' says Wong. In one corner of the gallery, Wong has created an installation of train tickets, old paintings and postcards. 'My work is like a collage of memories. I'm not being nostalgic. Sometimes when you look at the past it gives you a better idea of what to do with your future.' In other paintings, the artist reveals his special feelings for the sky and clouds. 'Clouds are so cute and look soft. Their shapes and colours keep changing in different weather. You see them everyday, everywhere, but at the same time they are very remote,' he says. Wong has painted clouds and the sky on different sizes of paper, from as small as 10 centimetres to a gigantic 2.8 by 1.9 metre feature. The paintings are in black and white with a hint of sky blue. 'Black and white gives you more imagination and a better balance,' he says. His choice of colours were inspired by his background. When Wong started to learn painting as a teenager, his mentor, an art teacher at his secondary school, specialised in Chinese painting. Though Wong picked up Western painting, he says he was heavily influenced by the Chinese style. Wong hopes more young people will visit his show, and ask themselves more questions. 'The advancement of technology can replace a lot of human skills, but our minds are irreplaceable. Art should be a training of our minds, not just drawing skills,' says Wong. Illumination - Drawing and Installation Exhibition runs until August 3 at Agnes b Librairie Galerie, 22 Elgin Street, Central. Tel: 2869 5505.
