Cheung Yee 張義 (b. 1936 - d. 2019)

Born in Guangzhou, China, Cheung Yee graduated from the Fine Art Department of Taiwan Normal University in 1958, and five years later he formed the Circle Group with other local artists in Taiwan. In 1965, Cheung received a grant to travel the USA and Europe, exploring the discovering Western artists and their key influences and practices.

Most renowned for his cast paper murals developed in the 1970s, Cheung Yee is widely regarded as the pioneer of the contemporary art movement in Hong Kong. His artistic innovation and contributions had also won him The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member class (MBE) in 1979 conferred by the Queen of England. With over a hundred exhibitions organised worldwide since he started his career, Cheung holds the record as the only living artist in the history of Hong Kong to have been specially invited to exhibit three solo-exhibitions at the prestigious Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Cheung was a professor of Fine Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong until 1998, the chairman of the Hong Kong Sculptors’ Association, as well as advisor to the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Possessing a rare perception in art, his works reflect elements from a myriad of subjects including early American art, Egyptian art, ancient Chinese philosophy, geomancy, among various others; all of which are uniquely interpreted to result in works that are evidently distinct. Archaic touches from the East, like a profound Chinese poem from the distant past or cryptic primitive symbols from a forgotten time, are delicately blended into his cast paper works. Cheung Yee passed away in 2019.

Four Spirits & the Sanfuhuangtu
An interesting theme that Cheung’s art projects is the Sanfuhuangtu 《三辅黄图》 (Annotations on the Rule of the Yellow Emperor). This ancient literary text is propelled to life by his individualistic bronze sculptural works which express the xuanwu 玄武, represented by the combined form of the tortoise and the snake. Consequently, a keen observer may notice that a number of his sculptures such as the Magic Nine and Four Spirits show spatial openings, symbolic of the tortoise shell, and worm-like figures, representative of the snake.

Education

1958 | Graduated from the Fine Art Dept. of Taiwan Normal University

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2021 | The Art of Cheung Yee, iPreciation, Singapore
2019 | Cheung Yee – The Early Years, Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong
2005 | Perceptive Impressions, Galerie Du Monde, Hong Kong
2005 | Cheung Yee: Fortune, AO Vertical Art Space, Hong Kong
2003 | Cheung Yee Solo Exhibition, iPreciation, Singapore
2000 | The Art of Cheung Yee, Nanyang Academy of Fine Art, Singapore
1993 | Solo Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021 | Taiwanese Art Treasures Preserved Overseas: The Homecoming Exhibition of the Sun Ten Collection, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan
2020 | 20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
2019 | iPreciation 20th Anniversary: Reverie Collection–25 Years of Art Collecting Journey, iPreciation, Singapore / Embody, Galerie du Monde, Hong Kong
2018 | Beyond Signs and Symbols: Hong Kong Landmarks Re-presented, Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong
2010 | It’s Not Sculpture, Linda Gallery, Singapore
2008 | Bridge ArtFair New York 2008, U.S.A
2007 | Korea International Art Fair, Korea
2000 | Valentine Willie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1995 | Tresors, Singapore
1990 | Contemporary Artists Drawing Exhibition, Cheng Pin Gallery, Taipei
1988 | Moderne Chinesische Kunst Aus Hong Kong, Galerie Art East Art West, Hamburg, Germany
1983 | 10th National Arts Exhibition, Taiwan National Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1982 | Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Manila, Philippines
1971 | Art Now Hong Kong, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, UK
1964 | Pittsburgh International, Carnegie Institute, U.S.A.
1961 | Salon d’Aout, Hong Kong, St. John Cathedral Hall, Hong Kong