Harmonious Tension is Wei Ligang’s second solo show at Gajah Gallery. The show invites viewers into the enchanting world of Wei, hailed as a pioneer of contemporary Chinese calligraphy.
Wei’s contemplative abstract paintings strike a delicate balance between chaos and calm. A student of both mathematics and Chinese calligraphy, he initially focused on traditional calligraphy, researching the traditional cursive style of the 17th-century calligrapher Fu Shan. But, by the 1990s, he developed an urge to “break down boundaries”, and experimented with more modern forms. Masterfully melding calligraphy and abstraction, he birthed a unique style, which is at once structured and spontaneous, ancient and contemporary.
Featuring 18 new paintings, Harmonious Tension turns the spotlight on how Wei captures harmony amid visual tension. Marrying rhythmic, meditative abstract shapes with the unrestrained, emotive strokes of traditional calligraphy script-forms, he creates an atmosphere that is both tranquil and deeply expressive. Through Wei’s paintings, viewers are invited to witness the interplay between vivid and muted tones, firm and delicate brushstrokes, and dynamic and serene compositions. ‘Tension’ appears not only in his forms, but mediums, too: gold acrylic paint recurs in these paintings, juxtaposing the black ink of the characters. While acrylic is unconventional in the calligraphic practice, the intruding medium, here, infuses freshness and vibrancy to a tradition dating back thousands of years.
Venue: Gajah Gallery, 39 Keppel Road, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, #03-04, Singapore 089065
When: 1 - 17 Sep 2023,
By: Gajah Gallery