The Painting Exhibition

The Exhibition Gallery

May 21-22

Olivia Leung created more than 60 paintings for her latest exhibition. There are traditional houses from Yunnan province among abstract circles, dancing squirrels on multi-coloured pine branches, blooming chrysanthemums bursting with yellow, and cascading mountain ranges. Anything that interests this retired nurse of three years, she paints. However, Leung admits that, with a little more diligence, she could have produced more - after all, her last exhibition was four years ago.

Born in Guangzhou in 1947, Leung started traditional Chinese painting more than 20 years ago. Along the way, she has been invited to participate in numerous shows, including the New Millennium Exhibition of Works in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan by the Chinese Artists Association, and has earned a long list of awards for her paintings and contribution as a docent (or teacher) at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

In her current exhibition, Leung's favourite ink paintings are a series of frolicking squirrels. After visiting family in Toronto, she says she couldn't get the furry animals out of her mind. 'The squirrels are active, joyous and happy,' she says. In one stroke, Leung is able to paint the squirrel's fluffy tail. 'The more simple [the image], the more difficult it is. You can't hide anything,' she says. 'The way you control the amount of water and ink, you have to be very sure of yourself.'

Although some of the paintings have been created in a traditional Chinese style, with predominantly black and white brush strokes, some of Leung's paintings have become more colourful and abstract - geometric, swerving lines of ink and colour reflect anything from flowers and clouds to wood. 'As I'm getting older, I prefer to use more colours,' she says. 'It shows my happy mood.'

Daily, 9am-7pm, The Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong City Hall, 7/F High Block, Edinburgh Place, Central. Inquiries: 2104 9618