Gallery Lane Cove hosts major exhibition

Tseng Ying-Tung’s World of Energies

Every so often, we encounter art that draws us into its dimension. Tainan based artist Tseng Ying-Tung’s works operate on such a level. In its first ever exhibition by an overseas artist, Gallery Lane Cove is proud to be showcasing works by Tseng. Entitled Sprout: The Conservation of Energy, the exhibition seeks to re-imagine the world from the perspectives of strength, transformation and energy; with the ethos of love as an intangible asset and counterpoint to materialism and money.

Curator Hsu Yuan-ta describes Tseng as a practitioner of “volatile aesthetics”. His mixed media paintings appear at once gritty, solid, heavy yet ephemeral, and evoke experiences of tranquility. Juxtapositions are typical in Tseng’s artworks.

Rachel Kiang, Manager & Curator of Gallery Lane Cove, interviewed Tseng about his creative processes, the impetus for this new body of work and his expanded practice that incorporates art in the public realm.

1. What drives you to create artworks? How would you describe your artistic process?

As a child, I enjoyed the process of painting. Since graduating from college, my works have been evolving, from the early series of ‘Ocean’, ‘The Wetlands’, ‘Islands’ through to the recent series ‘Energy’ and ‘Harmony between Heaven and Earth’. This progressive course is not deliberate, but rather organic and natural. It comes from being open to learning and a continuous observation of life and nature.

2. What inspired your latest body of work featured in the exhibition Sprout: The Conservation of Energy? How does this new work differ from your previous series?

I was inspired by the relationship between humanity and nature. I constantly reflect on how a balance between humanity and their surroundings could be reached. In recent years, energy has been at the forefront of my creative thinking. This has since developed into an emphasis on the exchange, circulation and flow of energies in my paintings. As of early 2018, I have been creating a series of works about the way energy courses through various life forms and objects. This new exhibition Sprout: The Conservation of Energy features tropical oceans, islands and focuses on the issue of environmental sustainability. It is all about harmony and harmonious co-existence.

3. Taoist philosophy appears to be quite central to your art. Could you please explain how it translates into your paintings?

One of the fundamental ideas of Taoism is to follow the unplanned rhythms of the universe. When I draw, the strokes, choice of colours and how the colours interact with each other are not predetermined. Instead, they sprout and grow like organisms without extra effort on my part. I believe in the simplicity and spontaneity of Tao and this is the guiding principle in my creative endeavours.

Endless Growth by Tseng Ying-Tung.

Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish by Tseng Ying-Tung.

Gold and Silver Mountains by Tseng Ying-Tung.

4. Would you say there is something distinctively Tainan about your art? If so, what are some of the characteristics?

As the first developed city in Taiwan, Tainan (south of Taiwan), is culturally resplendent and abounds with heritage and history. The texture of my works resembles that of ancient town walls and implies the slow pace of life led by Tainan residents. The vibrant colors I use reflect the invariably great weather in Tainan and the layers of colour allude to Tainan’s history and cultural heritage.

5. You have an alias ‘Ganle A-She’, which is also the Chinese name of the private art museum you founded. What is the significance of this name in the context of your art practice?

‘Ganle’ means “sweet and delightful” in Chinese and “spinning top” in Taiwanese (the local Taiwanese Min-nan dialect). ‘A-She’ refers to “affluent men who splurge” in Taiwanese. I am diligent when it comes to art. I wake up at 4am to paint, like a nonstop spinning top, with my heart full of joy.

I am not rich, but mentally wealthy. Through my artworks, I share positive energy with viewers. The everlasting energy enables me to ‘squander’ my passion like an ‘A-She’, but in a good way.

6. What is the overlap and connection between your public art practice and mixed media paintings?

Public art practice needs to reflect local spirit and characteristics special to the area. Nevertheless, for both public art and paintings, I express their concepts from the angle of energy. From an artistic perspective I always incorporate my visual language, eg. symbols of corals, mountains and shapes of hearts, to strengthen the concept of public art projects. Viewers can therefore perceive endless energy, either from the works of public art or paintings, and be encouraged to embrace positive energetic exchanges like love.

Fully Blossomed by Tseng Ying-Tung.

Experience Tseng YingTung’s world of energies

Visit Tseng Ying-Tung’s first major Australian solo exhibition at Gallery Lane Cove. Featuring a rich new oeuvre with no less than 13 series and 53 artworks.

Dates: 31 January till 2 March Panel discussion with artist: 11am, Saturday 2nd February

To RSVP and for further details, visit www.gallerylanecove.com.

au/upcomingexhibitions

About Tseng Ying-Tung

A prominent artist in Taiwan and mainland China, Tseng is known for his mixed-media paintings and public artworks. His mixed media art is favoured amongst collectors. Based in Tainan (a city south of Taiwan), Tseng was one of the early exponents of the Southern Taiwan art style in the 1980s. Tseng founded the (Ganle A-She) Asir Art Museum in 2015. This private art museum features his artworks year round and is a platform for international art exchanges.