Residual Heat - Curated by Chris Wan Feng

For our participation in the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association Summer Programme 2021, Axel Vervoordt Gallery is pleased to invite curator Chris Wan Feng to take over the gallery’s 21st floor space for a summer group exhibition Residual Heat. The exhibition features seven Hong Kong artists from different generations, including Kurt Chan, Jaffa Lam, Ocean Leung, Ivy Ma, Shawn Tang, Morgan Wong and Wu Jiaru.

“The use of aesthetics is like picking up a piece of burnt charcoal stick next to a bonfire to sketch, with the warmth still in your hands, daubing the story of the writer. East and West, connected with each other over time, learn from each other not only the aesthetic interest, but also the spiritual tools for understanding the world." – Chris Wan Feng

“Residual Heat” refers to something remaining, but through an introspective and historical approach, and re-emerging contemporary state of mind. It is closely related to historical art movements and the broader social and cultural changes. It derives great energy from the combination of aesthetics and spirituality, and references to the human condition in the present world.

Divided into three chapters, the exhibition traces the aesthetic tradition and the interconnected development of Hong Kong’s local contemporary art practice. The exhibition presents works of various mediums – painting, sculpture, video, and installation - and examines each artist’s intrinsic spirituality, burgeoning inner strength, and their resonance with material and matter, as they actively respond to the history and the present.

Chris specially invited the poet Liu Wai Tong to select three poems for each chapter of the exhibition. The poems respond to the exhibited works and merges with the sound materials of language and literature.

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About the curator:

Chris Wan Feng（b.1982) is a curator and art critic, currently works and lives in Hong Kong. His art writing can be found on various media publications. Chris’s recent research and curation focuses on development of local art systems and creation of emerging artists in Hong Kong. He is also the founder and editor of independent art review collective “daoju.art”, which supports local art community through planning and organizing series of art critique projects.