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Ceramicist Johnson Tsang, who excels in using sculpture as a medium of expression, always integrates daily occurrences with his artistic creativity to make artworks reflecting human nature.
From tomorrow (December 6) to December 16, visitors to the ¡§Imagine ¡V Sculptures by Johnson Tsang¡¨ exhibition at the Hong Kong Central Library will be able to experience the inner world of the artist through his works. They represent his feeling towards the destruction caused by wars and natural disasters, and also reflect his everyday experiences.
The exhibition is one of the series under ¡§Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme IV¡¨organised by the Art Promotion Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The exhibition is in two stages. The first stage was held earlier at Grand Century Place in Mong Kok, while the second stage will be held from tomorrow at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library.
Johnson Tsang, a self-taught ceramicist, specialises in ceramic sculpturing. In 1996, he set up his own ceramics workshop to teach and organise activities with various museums, primary and secondary schools, and charitable and rehabilitation organisations to promote ceramic art to the community.
To ceramists, pottery clay captivates with its pliant quality and inherent potential. Through the process of creation, artists express creative concepts through intimate contact with clay. At the same time, there are many other variables that may come into play in the shaping process, drying, biscuit firing, glazing, glaze firing and cooling to completion.
The exhibition will feature more than 30 of Tsang¡¦s works and some 200 artworks by members of "Hand in Hand with Clay", a community ceramic project. Tsang¡¦s artworks on display include ¡§Survival¡¨, ¡§A Dish of Future¡¨, and ¡§Conversion¡¨. Through his work ¡§Survival¡¨, Tsang expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, hoping the survivors can be strong enough to overcome the devastation and rebuild their lives.
Tsang understands that the Earth, which protects and nurtures us all, is our home. However, people keep consuming its natural resources and harming its ecology. He uses his work, ¡§A Dish of Future¡¨, to show how people destroy the Earth.
Tsang is also concerned about world peace, as reflected in his work, ¡§Conversion¡¨. He created this work for those who strive for peace. He strongly believes that although many people are plunged into misery and suffering, there are still some people willing to help others. He asserts that people can convert violence, hatred and fear into love, peace, eternity and compassion, so that the world¡¦s fate will eventually be completely changed.
The Hong Kong Central Library is located at 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, and is open daily from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.
For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at www.artistneighbourhood.info. For enquiries, please call 3101 2712 or 3101 2713.
Ends/Friday, December 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:46
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