現旅居加拿大之香港藝術家周肅磐，近年致力於色彩斑斕之《花花》系列，將於 11 月 4 日及 5 日在東京港區南青山 STUMP BASE 展出 30 多幀大小不一之作品。於藝術家而言，《花花》就是童心之作。

In this debut show in Tokyo, Japan, open to public on Nov 4th and 5th, contemporary artist Charles Chau will be showcasing more than 30 pieces of his latest works Fafa 123 ̶ the various sub-phases of the artistʼs playful colours ̶ of various sizes including two large pieces of work of 188 x 290 cm that the artist created over the last 5-6 years.

Why it matters:
周肅磐是香港出生（b.1963）的當代藝術家，現旅居於加拿大卑斯省。許多藝術評論家認為其過往作品是從中國傳統書法、城市建築和大師繪畫風格中汲取靈感。最新《花花》(2020) 色彩系列，周肅磐刻意地擺脫其以往標誌性的黑白極簡風格，從《山不動》(2013/14) 探索抑壓情感的玄黑及素白系列解放開來，如今以繽紛色彩和率性筆觸構成一幀幀可供自由聯想的大型繁花作品。

Many art critics have described the work of artist Charles Chau as drawing inspiration from classic Chinese calligraphy, urban architecture and master painterly styles. His latest body of work, the Fafa series, is a deliberate attempt to break away from his former signature monochromatic works, Mountain Vastness, that explored contained emotions, now liberated with unique coloured brushstrokes and freely associated forms.

4 Hightlights:
．周肅磐希望通過他的畫作，讓觀者不自覺地隨他的筆觸丶綫條與色塊，細意徘徊觀賞，如中國畫中的「可以游」，讓觀者悠然進入自己的花花世界。

．周肅磐大量參與藝術、建築、設計以及公共藝術或在建築和空間中展示藝術的整合項目。他在北京隈研吾的「瑜舍」中的裝置作品，可以作為藝術家與建築師合作的一個有趣視角。

．周肅磐經常從中國書法中汲取靈感，並且參考了一些中國傳統水墨技巧，如勾、勒、皴、擦、點等，從而創造出自己獨特的筆觸。

．​北京大學藝術學院院長彭鋒教授在談到周肅磐的藝術轉型時寫道：「他發現了花──一種無足輕重卻又自然地屬於這個世界的東西。在《花花》中，周肅磐將狄俄尼索斯（酒神）的迷戀升華為阿波羅（太陽神）的夢想。兩者合二為一」。

．Charles wants to create a visual mirror that will allow the viewers to ʻtourʼ at their own pace, on their own terms, and create their own navigation path into their own Garden of Eden. To the artist, the challenge is not about ʻexpressingʼ his own emotions but finally becoming ʻinvisibleʼ in his paintings.

．Charles would be heavily involved in projects that crossed over art, architecture, design, and integration of public art or art on display in buildings and space. Charles’s installations in Beijing at Kengo Kuma’s TOH (The Opposite House) could be an interesting perspective of how artists and architects may work together.

．Charles references certain traditional Chinese ink techniques, including hooking, strangling, chafing, rubbing, and dotting, to create his unique brushstrokes. He quite often sees inspiration from Chinese calligraphy.

．Prof Peng Feng, Dean of Arts at Peking University, has written about the artistic transition of Charles, “He found flowers, (“fa”) － something inconsequential yet naturally part of this world. And here in Fafa, Charles has elevated the Obsession of Dionysus (God of Wine) to the Dream of Apollo (God of Sun). The two has become one.”

Background – Charles Chau:
周肅磐畢業於香港大學文學系，主修哲學，兼修藝術史，並擁有倫敦商學院工商管理碩士學位。在他的早期職業生涯中，曾服務於麥肯錫顧問公司，並為 MTV Networks 全球音樂頻道北亞地區總裁。於15年前，周肅磐放下企管工作，全身投入藝術創作，在參與多項保育建築項目同時，於2006年成立其畫室至今。2019 年，周肅磐接受委託在加拿大卑斯省基隆拿市中心，繪畫一幅描繪奧根湖區當地華人社會歷史的壁畫。有關該壁畫創作項目的紀錄片 《花果本紀》，最近獲中國電影家協會舉辦的「2020 年中國電影獎」頒授「十大最佳影片」殊榮；亦為 2020 年第三屆賽普勒斯考古丶民族丶歷史電影節入圍影片。該片現為加拿大基隆拿市文化博物館永久收藏。

Charles is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong in Philosophy and Art History. He also obtained an MBA from the London Business School. In the early stage of his career, he became the youngest editor-in-chief in the 50-year history of Hong Kong’s iconic cultural magazine when he was 26. After completing graduate school, Charles first worked at McKinsey & Company and later joined MTV Networks, a Viacom company, as their Managing Director in North Asia. 18 years ago, he quit his high-flyer corporate career at 42 and began his artistic creation in modesty. Establishing an atelier in 2006, Charles was also involved in several revitalisation projects of historical buildings and architectural projects in Hong Kong and Asia. In 2019, Charles was commissioned to paint a mural depicting Okanagan Chinese history in downtown Kelowna, BC, Canada. The documentary of the mural project Flowers & Fruits recently won the “10 Best” title of Chinaʼs Roots Film Awards 2020, presented by the Chinese Filmmakers Association. The documentary is also a semi-finalist of the 3rd Edition, Cypress Archaeological, Ethnological, and Historical Film Festival 2020. The documentary is now part of the permanent collection of Kelowna Heritage Museum.

Final Tips:
展覽地點是安藤忠雄設計的建築「Stump Base」，其標誌性的灰色混凝土內牆是該建築的一大特色。
The exhibition venue is Stump Base, a building designed by Tadao Ando, distinguished by the architect’s signature grey concrete interior walls.

周肅磐個展：雲にキス
Charles Chau Exhibition: When did you last kiss the clouds?
Date:
2023.11.04 – 11.05
Venue:
Stump Base
東京都港区南青山6-5-45
6-5-45, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Images courtesy of the artist