Hong Kong artist Louis To (杜煥) said in a recent statement by GalaxyArt that bamboo is an essential element of Chinese art and culture, so in his exhibition “The Art of Bamboo: from Qilin to Contemporary Art” he aims to showcase this crucial part of Chinese tradition.
The statement underlined that To has taken the ancient craft of bamboo sculpting for festive ceremonies’ processions to a new stage. The statement said that he first observed how the old masters made the traditional Qilin (麒麟), then dissected it to study its internal structure and engineering, and then developed his own style to fashion a new Qilin sculpting.
According to Wikipedia, Qilin is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. Qilin are a specific type of the “Lin” mythological family of one-horned beasts.
The statement pointed out that as a part of To’s modern take on the art of bamboo, and inspired by this tradition, he has also created decors, costumes and props for performances or rituals taking place in bamboo-scaffolding theatres. The statement underlined that To’s artworks are blending eastern traditions with western modern arts, relying on techniques of bamboo sculpting from Chinese and western painting.
To’s exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. until May 15 on the first floor of Galaxy Macau in Cotai. Admission is free.
As part of the government’s COVID-19 prevention measures, visitors need to wear a facemask, have their temperature checked, and present a digital health code when entering the exhibition.
Photos: Prisca Tang
