「我們須在有限的空間中達到一種無限大的能量和探索，在超越時間的非物質性世界中去學習、瞭解生命深刻的意涵。」—— 蕭勤

“One should always try to explore the limited physical space to the maximum and to generate maximum energy in the confines of space, to learn in a material world that transcends the boundaries of time, and in so doing to grasp the deeper meanings of life.” — Hsiao Chin

What it matters:

蕭勤被稱為現代抽象藝術的先驅。他不同時間的藝術作品反映了他的內心世界和人生經歷。為紀念蕭勤逝世一週年以及他的藝術成就，3812畫廊在香港舉辦《花園·彼岸:蕭勤香港紀念展》。這個展覽聚焦於他1990至2000時期的藝術轉型期。在痛失女兒莎芒妲後，他的作品風格經歷了一個從悲痛走向昇華和尋找自我救贖的過程，他的作品反映了哲學層面上對生命及宇宙的探索。這次展覽為大家呈見一段通往自我救贖和哲學領悟的創作歷程。

Hsiao Chin is a pioneer of modern abstract art. His artworks reflected his different emotions and life experiences. 3812 Gallery presented the “From Eternal Garden to the Bright Side – Hsiao Chin Memorial Exhibition in Hong Kong” to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hsiao Chin’s passing. Through the retrospective lens, it focuses on his artworks from the 1990s to the 2000s, a transformative period of his art development. His paintings transform with a process of profound spiritual sublimation after he lost his daughter Samantha. We can interpret his artwork as a journey of self-salvation and exploring philosophy. 

3 Highlights:

• 蕭勤1990年女兒莎芒妲的離世給他帶來了巨大的悲傷與打擊，他的作品「莎芒妲之昇華」系列表達了他對失去女兒的痛苦和哀傷。之後他試圖整理自己的思緒，並通過創作藝術尋找生死的意義。他創作了《度大限》和《永久花園》等系列作品，表達了他對宇宙和自然的探索，並融入了對女兒的情感。他通過禪宗和佛教對永生的哲學，得以從失去女兒的痛苦中解脫出來。他認為莎芒妲「沒有離開，只是不在」，她的靈魂超越了世俗的感官領域。在《永久花園》中，蕭勤將女兒生命力的精神永續於其藝術作品和他所創造的「花園」之中。他用鮮明的品紅色象徵了女兒，「花園」成為了一個與女兒靈魂相連的精神通道。

• The loss of Hsiao’s daughter Samantha in 1990 devasted him, and his “The Sublimation of Samantha” expresses his suffering and pain from Samantha’s loss. After that, he tried to order his thoughts and find the meaning of life and death through his art. He created series such as “Crossing Through the Great Threshold” and “To the Eternal Garden” to express his exploration of the universe and nature, merging the emotions toward his daughter.

• He was released from the pain of losing a daughter with Zen and Buddhist beliefs in eternal life. He believed that Samantha was “not death, but just non-presence”. Her spirit is transcendent in the realm beyond the earthly senses. In “Eternal Garden”, Hsiao Chin immortalised her vital spirit in his artworks and the “garden” he created. He used vibrant magenta to depict the vitality of her daughter’s spirit. “Garden” became a spiritual realm that made a connection with his daughter.  

• 蕭勤通過線條、色彩和幾何圖形在他的藝術作品中表達了自己的心理狀態和內心體驗。重複出現的圓和點表達了宇宙的無窮生命力。蕭勤試圖在有限的物理空間中激發出最大的宇宙能量。在《度大限》系列作品中，他受道、佛教的哲思影響，使用飽和度高的色彩和富有韻律的線條，營造出宇宙的生命力和脈動，以及人生的起落。幾何圖形整齊的構圖與放射線條形成對比，轉化為不可阻擋的持續生命力和無限的空間延伸。這種直觀的創作方法使他的作品擺脫了純粹的理性和幾何結構，轉而表達內心世界的情感和精神探索。在《永久花園》系列中，鮮豔的紅色反映了蕭尤民對生命的熱情，以及對女兒的愛和祝福。

• Hsiao Chin conveys his mental state and inner experience through his artworks’ lines, colour and geometric figures. Replicated circles and dots presented the infinite energy of the universe. He tried to reach the maximum energy the limited physical space could generate. 

• In the series “Crossing the Great Threshold”, he used high-saturated colours and rhythmic brushstrokes, influenced by Taoism and Chakra from Buddhism. It created a sense of purity and power in the universe. The neat composition of geometric figures contrasted with the radiating lines, which convert unstoppable, continued vital energy and infinite space extension. The progress and power transcend surface-level geometric rationality and reflect his intuitive approach to creating art. In the series “Eternal Garden”, the vivid red reflects Hsiao’s passion for life and the beloved of his daughter.

• 蕭勤在1990年代後深受禪宗佛教和道教的影響。他將西方美學和東方哲學結合到他的作品中。他作品中利用的道家二元思維呈現出虛與實、動與靜、陰與陽、剛與脆弱的平衡。它邀請觀眾思考時間性與超越性的共存。留白在《永久花園》中用來分割各鮮豔的色塊，呼應了他創作中追求的二元論，展現了有形與無形、時間與永恆之間的微妙平衡。它也強調禪宗藝術和東方美學。我們可以在欣賞蕭勤的藝術作品同時，親身體驗禪宗和佛教的實踐，讓我們更深入地理解和領悟他作品背後的哲學內涵和禪宗美學

• Hsiao Chin was deeply affected by Zen Buddhism and Taoism after the 1990s. He combined the Western aesthetics and Eastern philosophy into his works. The dualistic composition presents the balance of void and substance, movement and stillness, Yin and Yang, strength and fragility. It invited audiences to think about the co-existence of temporal and transcendent. Liubai, in “Eternal Garden”, presented the interrelationship between temporal and eternal worlds. It also emphasises Zen art and Eastern aesthetics. We can engage with his artworks and experience the practices of Zen and Buddhism at the same time.
  

Background –– Hsiao Chin: 

蕭勤作為當代現代抽象藝術的先鋒，其作品以充滿活力的色彩呈現圓形、點狀和幾何圖形，以及中西美學交融為特徵。 當他在西方生活30年期間，他致力於將東方藝術和文化融入西方美學與抽象藝術，對推廣東方藝術和中國現代抽象藝術發展作出重大貢獻。1955年他在臺北成立了「東方畫會」，這是戰後首個中國現代藝術團體。為了宣揚唐宋禪學的「靜觀精神」，他於1961年在米蘭創立了「龐圖國際藝術運動」，這是第一個由亞洲藝術家創立的前衛藝術運動。
我們可以通過蕭勤不同時期的作品，深入探索他的精神世界和個人歷程。從1950到1960年代，他受西方和東方哲學、龐圖運動以及紐約硬邊繪畫的影響。1980年代返回亞洲後，他獲得了新的創作靈感。從1990到2000年代，他經歷了女兒逝世的悲痛，轉而探索生命的永恆奧秘和宇宙的能量律動。
在漫長的藝術生涯中，蕭勤在全球舉辦了超過112場個展和62場聯展，包括近期在巴黎、北京、上海等地的重要展覽。而3812畫廊自2016年起代理其作品，並於2022年倫敦3812畫廊、2023年澳門國際藝術雙年展和香港3812畫廊舉辦展覽。
 
Hsiao Chin is renowned as a pioneer in modern abstract art. Circles, dots and geometric figures rendered in vibrant colours become features of his artworks. When he spent a significant period in Western countries for 30 years around, he dedicated himself to promoting Eastern art and culture by integrating it into Western aesthetics and abstract art. In 1955, he set up “To Fan Art Group” in Taipei, the first post-war Chinese modern art group. To promote the Eastern philosophy of ‘calm contemplation’, he founded the “Punto International Art Movement,” in Milam in 1961, which is the first Avant-grade art movement founded by Asian artists. 
 
We can deeply engage in his spiritual world and personal journey through his works from various periods. From the 1950s to the 1960s, he was affected by Western and Eastern philosophy, the Punto movement and New York’s Hard-edge painting. He had new inspiration after returning to Asia in the 1980s. From the 1990s to the 2000s, he experienced the devastating loss of his daughter, and he transcended into an exploration of the eternal mysteries of life and the energetic rhythms of the universe. 
 
Over the course of his career, Hsiao Chin has held over 112 solo and 62 group exhibitions globally, including recent major exhibitions in Paris, Beijing and Shanghai. 3812 Gallery has represented his artworks since 2016, including 3812 Gallery in London in 2022, Marco International Art Biennale in 2023 and 3812 Gallery in Hong Kong in 2024. 

Final Tips:
嘗試憑直覺地找到與您產生情感共鳴的藝術作品。然後試著分析作品中的顏色、線條或圓形。

Intuitively find the artwork that resonates with your personal emotions. Then, try to analyze the colour, lines or circles in the artwork. 

《花園 · 彼岸：蕭勤香港紀念展》” From Eternal Garden to the Bright Side – Hsiao Chin Memorial Exhibition in Hong Kong”
Date: 2024. 5. 23 – 2024. 7. 26
Venue: 香港中環雲咸街40號 雲咸商業中心26樓3812畫廊
26/F, Wyndham Place, 40 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong