Artists have been using pigments extracted from elements and ores as early as the prehistoric times, with the earliest mineral-pigment paintings being the Mogao Grottoes murals. Extracting the crème de la crop of these crystalline beauties, a|n Gallery brings to the city “Flowering Rocks – Chung Taifu’s Solo Exhibition: Mineral-Pigment Paintings”, which will showcase over 10 mineral pigment artworks. The exhibition will run from June 8 till July 8.
Mineral-pigment paintings are heralded “breathing art”. Their unique texture, luster, and water-insoluble properties mirror the primitive nature of minerals and their close connection with nature. Today, some mineral pigments may no longer exist as a number of ores have become rare gems. Such scarcity saturates mineral-pigment paintings with a precious aura – they feel almost like a quiet dialogue with different eras of civilisation.
Drawing from materials used to paint ancient murals, contemporary artistic techniques and his own expertise in print-making, artist Chung Taifu creates “Modern Dunhuang Art”. He masterfully combines the modest rawness of ancient Chinese murals, the delicate intricacy of Western paintings and the splendour of Japanese Ukiyo-e; creating paintings that transcend both time and spatial limits.
This exhibition showcases Chung Taifu’s latest mineral-pigment masterpieces, including the Salute to Van Gogh, Imprint and Nature’s Aquatic Dance series. Mineral pigments are hard and insoluble in nature. It is not possible to blend the colours. Artists can only use repeated stacking brushstrokes to pile the differently coloured mineral particles on top of on another, so as to create interweaved layers of rich hues. Surprisingly, Chung Taifu opts to challenge the innate “hardness” of mineral pigments, choosing to use these pigments to paint soft trailing flowers, floating leaves, light ripples and the suppleness of the human body. Contrasted with the vibrant tones of mineral pigments, his selection of painting subjects emanate an unexpected sense of warmth.