(above left) Tay Bak Chiang, Stringless Qin 无弦琴, 2015;  (above right) Tay Bak Chiang, After the Feast  盛宴过后, 2015. Each is 140x140cm, Pigments & acrylic on canvas

Tay Bak Chiang – a solo exhibition of recent paintings, presented in a dedicated solo booth at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016.

Gao Xingjian – Apres le Deluge (After The Flood) 洪荒之后 has been selected for inclusion in the Film sector at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016.

Art Basel Hong Kong 2016 opens to public from 24 – 26 March; the VIP Preview takes place from 22 – 23 March. The fair will be held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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Introduction

iPreciation is pleased to return to Art Basel Hong Kong 2016.

At this edition of the fair, the gallery will present two projects. The first is a solo exhibition of new paintings by Tay Bak Chiang in the Insights sector. The second is a film screening by Nobel Prize laureate Gao Xingjian in the Film sector.

The fair will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. VIP previews run from 22–23 March, while the public fair opens from 24–26 March.

For press queries related to artists or images, please email enquiry@ipreciation.com

Tay Bak Chiang

Contemporary Interpretations of Chinese Painting

Tay Bak Chiang (b. 1973, Malaysia/Singapore) continues to expand the possibilities of contemporary Chinese painting.

After a successful solo exhibition at iPreciation in 2014, the artist presents a new body of works at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016.

These paintings combine acrylic and mineral pigments on canvas, pushing the traditional language of ink painting into a contemporary format. The works feature luminous colours ranging from deep blues to shimmering greens and yellows.

Nature and the Stone Series

Tay’s stone paintings began after walks in Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. During these walks, he observed the powerful forms of rocks and boulders in nature.

Although stones appear inanimate, the artist sees them as forms filled with life and personality. To express this idea, he carefully manipulates colour and tone.

Through subtle gradations, he creates depth and translucency that resemble traditional ink washes.

The Guqin Series

In this exhibition, Tay also explores a new subject: the guqin, one of China’s oldest musical instruments.

The guqin is a seven-string zither associated with Chinese literati culture. Historically, scholars believed that mastering the instrument helped cultivate the mind and spirit.

Tay interprets the instrument in a minimalist way. Instead of depicting it realistically, he often suggests its presence through outlines, shadows, or symbolic forms.

Through these compositions, the artist evokes poetry, emotion, and quiet contemplation.

Gao Xingjian

Writer, Painter and Filmmaker

Gao Xingjian (b. 1940, China/France) is an internationally recognised writer, playwright, director, painter, and photographer.

In 2000, he became the first Chinese writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Over the years, he has received several international honours. These include the Asian Cultural Council Fellowship in 1989, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1992, and the Legion of Honour in 2002.

Film Presentation at Art Basel

At Art Basel Hong Kong 2016, Gao presents the short film “Après le Déluge (After the Flood)”, created in 2008.

The film runs for approximately twenty-eight minutes and unfolds like a cinematic poem. Dialogue is completely absent. Instead, movement, sound, and imagery shape the narrative.

Black-and-white paintings form the background for the scenes, while performers act before projected images. Occasionally, faint colours appear, suggesting moments when life and consciousness return.

This experimental film merges painting, performance, and cinema into a single visual language.