Spotlight by Art Basel
Wang Keping, Laurent Martin "Lo"
27 - 30 Nov, 2020
For the newly created art fair, Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery presents the works of two great sculptors Wang Keping and Laurent Martin “Lo” share an affinity of biomorphic expression in their sculptures. Using the natural elements of wood and bamboo in their works we can identify a natural intuition in their shared organic compositions. Wang Keping incorporates the natural forms of the wood to allow for nature to guide his artistic process in his figurative and abstract sculptures while Lo’s precision is in the shaping of delicate strips of bamboo to create lyrical sinuous and almost weightless mobile sculptures. Where Wang Keping’s totems convey a fluidity of form, grain and blackened polish they carry the weight of the hard woods he uses, Lo’s gracious balance of bamboo strokes achieve a harmonious ethereal balance within air and space. Within both of these artist’s works we can feel their incredibly pure authenticity and single-minded commitment and determination.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Laurent Martin “Lo” was born in France in 1955 and trained as a visual artist and worked as a creative director in advertising and fashion. Lo’s first encounter with bamboo was completely circumstantial, but as he recalls, “it was love at first slight”. Bamboo became his obsession and passion, that set him on a journey of discovery which he refers to as his Bamboo Routes. Since 2004 he has travelled to India, Southeast Asia and East Asia, as well as Latin America learning the mastery of bamboo as well as its spiritual potency. Laurent Martin “Lo” is member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and currently lives and works in Spain. “Lo” comments about this exhibition, "What a joy it is to have the opportunity to exhibit my work in Hong Kong! Hong Kong is in the very heart of the bamboo lands that I have had the chance to travel to. I love Hong Kong for its energy and free inspiration. Hong Kong is flexible and strong, patient and spirited, poetic and technological and is, like bamboo, always in balance. This is what makes its magic. In each of the sculptures exhibited, through tension, flexion, counterweights, space, movement and light, I pursue this same quest for balance and harmony. I hope the viewers will feel this sensation."
Wang Keping was born in China in 1949 and moved to France in 1984. He was a scriptwriter in China before he began to sculpt in 1978. He is a self-taught artist. In his youth, Wang Keping was one of the leaders of China’s first non-conformist artist group, “The Stars” (Xing Xing星星), formed in 1979 who were pivotal in initiating the debut of free art expressions in the Post-Mao era. Wang Keping for the last 40 years has honed a unique sculptural voice truly his own. Wang Keping is recognized internationally and has been collected and exhibited at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the M+ Museum, Hong Kong; the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, among others. In 2015, he was honored with the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of his significant contribution to the arts.
ABOUT 10 CHANCERY LANE GALLERY
10 Chancery Lane Gallery is committed to playing a major role in documenting the development of art within the Asia-Pacific region by consistently holding survey exhibitions by country or theme of emerging, mid-career and established artists, talks, forums and publishing books that bring together the individual historical context of the artists with the development of the arts within Asia. The gallery focuses on the Asia-Pacific, however, keeps its eye on international opportunities around the world, bringing international cultural appreciation to Hong Kong.
The gallery was founded in 2001 by Katie de Tilly. Katie de Tilly is President Emeritus and one of the founders of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, awardee of the 2019 Women of Influence ‘Master of The Arts” given by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Art Power HK board member and a member of the M+ Museum Patron’s Committee
For press enquiries and to arrange interviews, please contact Ellen Zhuang ellen@10chancerylanegallery.com or +852 2810 0065.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Laurent Martin “Lo” was born in France in 1955 and trained as a visual artist and worked as a creative director in advertising and fashion. Lo’s first encounter with bamboo was completely circumstantial, but as he recalls, “it was love at first slight”. Bamboo became his obsession and passion, that set him on a journey of discovery which he refers to as his Bamboo Routes. Since 2004 he has travelled to India, Southeast Asia and East Asia, as well as Latin America learning the mastery of bamboo as well as its spiritual potency. Laurent Martin “Lo” is member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and currently lives and works in Spain. “Lo” comments about this exhibition, "What a joy it is to have the opportunity to exhibit my work in Hong Kong! Hong Kong is in the very heart of the bamboo lands that I have had the chance to travel to. I love Hong Kong for its energy and free inspiration. Hong Kong is flexible and strong, patient and spirited, poetic and technological and is, like bamboo, always in balance. This is what makes its magic. In each of the sculptures exhibited, through tension, flexion, counterweights, space, movement and light, I pursue this same quest for balance and harmony. I hope the viewers will feel this sensation."
Wang Keping was born in China in 1949 and moved to France in 1984. He was a scriptwriter in China before he began to sculpt in 1978. He is a self-taught artist. In his youth, Wang Keping was one of the leaders of China’s first non-conformist artist group, “The Stars” (Xing Xing星星), formed in 1979 who were pivotal in initiating the debut of free art expressions in the Post-Mao era. Wang Keping for the last 40 years has honed a unique sculptural voice truly his own. Wang Keping is recognized internationally and has been collected and exhibited at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the M+ Museum, Hong Kong; the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, among others. In 2015, he was honored with the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in recognition of his significant contribution to the arts.
ABOUT 10 CHANCERY LANE GALLERY
10 Chancery Lane Gallery is committed to playing a major role in documenting the development of art within the Asia-Pacific region by consistently holding survey exhibitions by country or theme of emerging, mid-career and established artists, talks, forums and publishing books that bring together the individual historical context of the artists with the development of the arts within Asia. The gallery focuses on the Asia-Pacific, however, keeps its eye on international opportunities around the world, bringing international cultural appreciation to Hong Kong.
The gallery was founded in 2001 by Katie de Tilly. Katie de Tilly is President Emeritus and one of the founders of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, awardee of the 2019 Women of Influence ‘Master of The Arts” given by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Art Power HK board member and a member of the M+ Museum Patron’s Committee
For press enquiries and to arrange interviews, please contact Ellen Zhuang ellen@10chancerylanegallery.com or +852 2810 0065.
