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20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition

1/F, Thematic Galleries 3 & 4
7 October 2020 – 6 September 2021

Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Open Printshop
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Open Printshop

Footprints in the sand; 
Pencil rubbings of a leaf; 
Colourful patterns on a T-shirt – 

These are images printed from a "matrix" and the more common forms of "print art". Print art can be found in nature and in our daily life. But we live in an ocean of images, with internet memes, mobile phone snapshots, banner ads and infographics at our fingertips. For most of us, print art is probably associated with vague, distant memories of works such as Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol or The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai. 

In fact, Hong Kong artists started creating prints as early as the 1930s, producing elaborate and diverse images by experimenting with different printing materials and techniques. Artists from different generations have portrayed social life in their prints, explored new directions for modern culture through colours and abstract forms, and blazed new trails in print art by adopting the latest technology and innovative techniques. Even today, artists are still fascinated by the meticulous process of printmaking and the textures of ink and paper. Their works reflect on life in Hong Kong and contemplate the evolution of contemporary culture. They are also a visual representation of the complex human psyche.

How do printmakers record the transformation of Hong Kong culture?
How do they integrate Eastern traditions with Western art forms?
How can print art be combined with photography, animation and digital printing to spark creativity? 

The exhibition uses 20 questions related to print art as introductory remarks, and they are answered by 20 different sets of artworks. All aim to inspire different threads of artistic imagination. Let's embark on this 20/20 journey to enter the graphic world of print art and to investigate the past and future of art and culture.

The selected artworks in the exhibition range from the 1940s to 2020, showcasing prints by masters and some of the latest creations by young artists. Through these works, visitors will look into how the concepts of print art overlap with new media, such as computer animation, 3D printing, and augmented reality, and appreciate how printmaking techniques can be applied to creative works, like illustration, design, zines, and other cultural products.

Special Programmes for "20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition"

Welcome to download the exhibition booklet

Welcome to download the exhibition booklet

 

Online Programmes

Online Programmes 01 Online Programmes 02 Online Programmes 03


Exhibit Highlights

Raindrop Focus

Raindrop Focus II 

1969
Hon Chi-fun
Serigraphy: Silkscreen
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum 

 

Inception

2020
Li Ning
Relief printing: Linocut
Artist collection

Wong Ka-kui's first acoustic guitar, bought with his own savings

 

Chung Tai-fu and his work Blue Ripple.
Blue Ripple.

Creating a print is no small feat. The artist must plan every step in great detail – from conceiving the design and drawing the image to making the plate, applying the ink, and printing with a press. Only when the inked paper is lifted from the press is the finished artwork revealed. 

Chung Tai-fu and his work Blue Ripple .

 

Tablet

1976
Cheung Yee
Paper casting
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art

Tablet

 

Dancing in Water No. 23

Dancing in Water No. 23

2011
Liu Siu-jane
Planography: Waterless lithograph
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum

 

The Fishy Passage

2015
Yeung Hok-tak
Serigraphy: Silkscreen
Collection of Hong Kong Open Printshop

The Fishy Passage

 

Experiment 1 / Experiment 2 (left to right)

Experiment 1 / Experiment 2 (left to right)

1972
Kan Tai-keung
Relief printing: Water-based woodblock printing
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art

 

The exhibition introduces the various concepts and techniques of printmaking to visitors.

 

The exhibition introduces the various concepts and techniques of printmaking to visitors.

 

11 Auspicious Creatures Set (detail)

11 Auspicious Creatures Set (detail)

2013
Fung Ho-yin
Cyanotype
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art

 

Poster Poster

2016
Onion Peterman
Serigraphy: Mono screen print
Private collection

Poster Poster

 

LET'S RUN

LET'S RUN

2018
flip & roll press
Risograph
Artist collection

 

Chinese Zodiac

2016
Jan Curious
Relief printing: Woodcut
Artist collection

Chinese Zodiac

 

The Sun

The Sun

1970
Van Lau
Intaglio: Etching
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum

 

Painful Neck

2009
Chan An-gee
Serigraphy: Mono screen print
Collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Painful Neck

 

Spring

Spring

2015
Chan Lai-kuen
Mixed media printing: Silkscreen and movable type
Collection of Hong Kong Open Printshop

 

Monster Pit 2

2014
Prodip Leung
Serigraphy: Silkscreen
Collection of Hong Kong Open Printshop

Monster Pit 2