Ink and Inspiration
October 24 – December 14, 2024
Opening Reception: Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 from 5-8pm
As autumn deepens, we are pleased to present our year-end group exhibition, Ink and Inspiration.
At the heart of East Asian painting and calligraphy is a deep understanding of the “brush,” and inseparable from that is the use of “ink.” Together, brush and ink have given rise to artistic traditions that have evolved over thousands of years and continue to influence the modern world today. This dynamic interplay between simplicity and complexity—depth and breadth—creates endless possibilities, much like the ancient game of Go, where simple rules lead to infinite strategies.
The theme of this exhibition is drawn from a plaque by Yang Renkai, titled Ink and Inspiration. Yang Renkai was a prominent member of the appraisal team that authenticated Chinese paintings and calligraphy in the early years of the People’s Republic of China. He conducted extensive research on priceless works lost from the Forbidden City during the late Qing dynasty, rediscovering treasures like Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
This exhibition features works by Huang Junbi (1898-1991) and Hu Yefu (1908-1980), representing traditional approaches to brush and ink. We also showcase an early work from 1941 by C. C. Wang, which captures his youthful obsession with mastering brush techniques. This piece is contrasted with a later work from Wang’s mature years, revealing the evolution of his artistry. Yu Peng (1955-2014) brings a fresh, unconventional approach to brushwork, introducing bold colors and innovative compositions that pushed the boundaries of ink painting at the turn of the 20th century. Chen Danqing (b. 1953), known primarily for his oil paintings, demonstrates a deep respect for traditional calligraphy, with brushwork that recalls the style of Ming dynasty masters. Finally, the collaborative work of Michael Cherney (b. 1969) and Arnold Chang (b. 1954) represents the modern extension of brush and ink into the contemporary art world, where tradition and innovation meet.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
To learn more, click here.
RECENTLY CLOSED ASIA WEEK NEW YORK AUTUMN 2024 EXHIBITION
Transcultural Dialogues: The Journey of East Asian Art to the West
July 11 – October 19, 2024
Rotations: July 11–August 10 & August 13–October 19
We are delighted to present our group exhibition Transcultural Dialogues: The Journey of East Asian Art to the West, which explores the artistic evolution of East Asian traditions as they spread to the Western art milieu, focusing on the exchange and interaction of visual language and conceptual frameworks between traditional ink art and modern American art. Primarily focused on Chinese art, the show spans from the early 17th through the 20th centuries and into contemporary times, highlighting the early modernity and abstract quality of traditional ink masters alongside the reinterpretation of literati painting by diasporic Chinese artists who engaged with American Abstract Expressionism and explored notions of abstraction.
This exhibition draws inspiration from a 1997 touring exhibition, Asian Tradition / Modern Expressions: Asian American Artists and Abstraction, 1945-1970, organized by the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University and curated by Jeffrey Wechsler. It showcased the achievements of Asian American artists in backdrop of the increasing significance of abstract art in mid-20th-century America. It highlighted how Asian American artists creatively fused Eastern and Western art using traditional East Asian techniques and philosophies. Drawing from the rich artistic traditions of China, Japan, and Korea, these artists discovered ideas and techniques that prefigured Western abstract models and applied them during the era of abstract expressionism. Indeed, as a group, they represented a true merging of early Asian and modern Western concepts of art and abstraction, and a knowledgeable blending of Asian and Western aesthetics.
On view from July 11th to October 19th, 2024, Transcultural Dialogues: The Journey of East Asian Art to the West will present two rotations and include works by more than 15 artists. The first rotation opens on July 11th and with a reception on July 18th from 5 pm to 8 pm, and the second rotation starts on August 13th. Concurrently, a complementary exhibition, Asian-American Abstraction: Historic to Contemporary, will be presented at Hollis Taggart in Chelsea.
To view a virtual tour of the exhibit with guest curator Jeffrey Wechsler, click here.
To learn more about the exhibit, click here.
About the Gallery
We work at the intersection of East and West, contemporary and traditional. We are dedicated to exploring the visual and geographic globalization of contemporary Asian art and documenting artists’ work that resonates with classical Asian philosophy, aesthetics, and culture, with no limits on their expressive mediums.
With the rapidly evolving contemporary art scene as our backdrop, our mission is to present major artists’ creative trajectories to a wider audience through exhibitions, in-depth interviews, critical analysis, and forums for scholarly exchanges. FQM ultimately provides an educational venue where visual pleasure is paired with intellectual challenge, highlighting the broad effects of globalization, and transnational and diaspora experiences.
Our team, enriched with over a decade of experience from leading global auction houses, offers unparalleled expertise in the appraisal, dealing, and management of Chinese art. Grounded in a commitment to excellence, we are certified by the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and adhere to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
