Cheung Yee was one of the most important modern sculptors in Hong Kong. At iPreciation, his works are presented as part of our commitment to showcasing artists who bridge traditional Chinese cultural heritage with contemporary artistic expression.
About Cheung Yee
Cheung Yee 張義 (b. 1936 – d. 2019) was one of the most respected names in modern Asian art and a key figure in the development of modern sculpture in Hong Kong. Widely recognised for integrating Western sculptural techniques with traditional Chinese cultural symbols, his works create a distinctive dialogue between ancient Chinese philosophy and modern artistic expression.
Cheung Yee later became the only artist in Hong Kong to have been invited to hold three solo exhibitions at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and his practice remains central to the history of modern sculpture in Hong Kong.
Early Life and Education
Cheung Yee was born in Guangzhou, China, in 1936 and later moved to Hong Kong, where he spent most of his life and artistic career. During his early years, he developed a strong interest in literature, philosophy, and traditional Chinese culture.
He graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Taiwan Normal University in 1958. In the late 1950s, after returning to Hong Kong, he began making sculptures and became actively involved in the city’s emerging modern art movement. In 1963, he co-founded the Circle Art Group in Hong Kong with other local artists to promote modern art.
Artistic Career and Development
Throughout his career, Cheung Yee explored the relationship between Chinese cultural heritage and contemporary sculpture. In particular, he was fascinated by the symbolism found in ancient texts, calligraphy, mythology, and archaeology.
Many of his artworks incorporate elements of traditional Chinese philosophy while maintaining a distinctly modern sculptural language. At the same time, his works often display strong textures, symbolic forms, and dynamic compositions. In 1964, he held his first solo exhibition at the City Hall Museum and Art Gallery, now the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Cheung Yee later taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and influenced many younger artists in the city. After his retirement in 1998, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to develop his cast paper and sculptural practice.
Cast Paper Murals and Innovative Techniques
Cheung Yee became especially well known for his innovative cast paper murals, which he developed during the 1970s. These works combine sculpture, calligraphy, and painting within a single artistic form.
For example, Ode to General Pei incorporates four different scripts by the Tang dynasty calligrapher Yan Zhenqing. Through this approach, Cheung Yee transformed written language into powerful visual compositions.
These works blur the boundaries between traditional calligraphy and contemporary sculpture. In recognition of his important contributions to the arts, he was awarded the MBE in 1979.
Symbolism in Cheung Yee’s Sculptures
Cheung Yee also created numerous sculptures in bronze and wood that explore traditional Chinese symbolism. One of the most distinctive features of his work is the repeated use of tortoise-shell motifs, drawn from ancient Chinese divination practices in which cracks formed under heat were interpreted as signs and answers.
He transformed these patterns into sculptural forms that evoke both history and philosophical reflection, giving his works a strong sense of cultural memory while remaining modern in visual language.
Major Works and Artistic Exploration
Several sculptures demonstrate this symbolic language particularly well. Works such as Four Spirits and Spirit C & D are notable for their enigmatic structures and powerful visual presence.
These sculptures subtly reference elements of Chinese mythology while maintaining a contemporary abstract style. Another remarkable work, Magic Nine, features a truncated bronze column with wood-grain textures and tortoise-shell shaped apertures. Serpentine forms move across the surface of the sculpture, creating rhythm and movement while inviting deeper cultural interpretation.
Legacy of Cheung Yee
Over the course of more than three decades, Cheung Yee continuously explored new artistic directions while maintaining a strong connection to Chinese cultural heritage. Today, his sculptures and cast paper works continue to inspire collectors, scholars, and artists worldwide.
His artistic legacy demonstrates how traditional cultural ideas can be reinterpreted through modern sculptural practice, making him one of the most important sculptors in Hong Kong’s modern art history.
Education
- 1958 | Graduated from the Fine Arts Department 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
- 2008 | Solo Exhibition, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong
- 2005 | Perceptive Impressions, Galerie du Monde, Hong Kong
- 2005 | Cheung Yee: Fortune, AO Vertical Art Space, Hong Kong
- 2005 | Solo Exhibition at Jeff Hsu’s Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
- 2003 | Cheung Yee Solo Exhibition, iPreciation, Singapore
- 2000 | The Art of Cheung Yee, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
- 1993 | Solo Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
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
- 2019 | Taipei Dangdai, iPreciation, Taiwan
- 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 Art Fair New York, U.S.A.
- 2007 | Korea International Art Fair, Korea
- 2007 | Art Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
- 2007 | Art Beijing, Beijing, China
- 2005 | China World Trade Centre, Beijing, China
- 2003 | Reborn, Rejoice, Rejuvenate, iPreciation, Singapore
- 2002 | iPreciation, Singapore
- 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, Philippines
- 1971 | Art Now Hong Kong, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, UK
- 1964 | Pittsburgh International, Carnegie Institute, U.S.A.
- 1961 | Salon d’Aout, St. John Cathedral Hall, Hong Kong
Awards
- 1979 | Awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (Honorary)
- 1988 | Awarded Sculptor of the Year Award, Hong Kong Artists’ Guild
Public Collections
- Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
- Museum of Modern Art, Mexico City, Mexico
- National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwan Museum of Art, Taichung, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Fine Arts Museum, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Permanent Collections
- Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England, UK
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
- Kaohsiung Fine Arts Museum, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Museum of Modern Art, Mexico City, Mexico
- National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwan Museum of Art, Taichung, Taiwan
For the full list of exhibitions, awards and collections, please contact the gallery at enquiry@ipreciation.com.
Further Information
For further information on Cheung Yee, including institutional references and market records, please refer to the following resources:
Institutional Resources
- Hong Kong Museum of Art – Artist Introduction (PDF)
- Asia Art Archive – Cheung Yee: Sculptures, Prints, Drawings
- Galerie du Monde – Cheung Yee
Market and Auction Records
Images of Artworks
