Leong Kit Man (1985 - )
Mid-Summer Night
Colour on paper
30 x 30 cm / 30 x 28 cm
2013
These two paintings, relying on a rich palette represent the artist's exploration of new methods that depart from the traditional Song-style gongbi techniques. Kitman Leong innovates by infusing her own understanding and style into the principles outlined in the 'Six Principles Of Chinese Painting' by Chinese painter Xie He, particulorly in terms of utilising the 'bone method' (gufa) and the principle of applying colours occording to type' in her brushwork.
In 'Night', she uses both the 'boneless' (mogu) method to depict the green leaves of a golden lotus illuminated by moonlight and the 'water and powder collision' (zhuang shui zhuang fen) method to create a fusion of two colours - the dark Pu'er tea hue and the stone green shade. Her approach to colour treatment moves away from conventional palettes, seeking to express the subjective colour temperature of both sides of the leaves as imagined in the experience of the night.
Leong notes that she is deeply inspired by German art historian Wilhelm Worringer's Abstraction and Empathy: A Contribution to the Psychology of Style, using rationality to achieve her initial intent of emotional expression.
'Midsummer' personifies the posture of a purple clover, capturing what seems like a moment touched by the wind. Through abstract, freely flowing textures, it conveys an array of poetic emotions.
; IMGP3154.JPG; PENTAX K-1 Mark II; f/8.0; 1/200; 1600; ©ROY_GRUBB [5967]
