An exhibition entitled “Somniloquence” by local artist Tong Chong at the Macau Art For All Society (AFA) gallery is the first part of the “Perpetual Impermanence” exhibition series for artists this year, according to an online message by Alice Kok Tim Hei, president of AFA and curator of the exhibition.
This event is Tong’s 11th solo exhibition, showcasing 22 pieces of his latest selected artwork, including five sculptures, while the rest are paintings, Kok noted.
Tong was born in Fuzhou in 1977. He moved to Macau in 1984. At the age of 13, he returned to Fuzhou to study painting at the School of Arts and Crafts. One year later, he began to study Modern Painting at the School of Visual Arts at the Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM). He studied painting under the guidance of Mio Pang Fei between 1991 and 1996, Kok points out in her message posted on the AFA website.
According to Kok, Tong specialises in totem art. The term totem is derived from the native North American Ojibwe language, in which it means “his relative” or “his clan”. It is a symbol or image creation that combines social realities and imaginations. The totem logos are related to the origin of written Chinese characters in Chinese history, Kok says in her message. They were the earliest social organisation signs and symbols, according to Kok.
Tong’s latest artwork is his exploration in colours during the past two to three years, Kok notes. Tong used darker colours previously and in this series, he started to use traditional Chinese painting pigments which are more natural, to combine with traditional paper-cutting art, according to Kok.
He paints, does colouring and collage in the process.
Kok says that looking at Tong’s work reminds her of “Somniloquence”, (the act of talking in one’s sleep) which is like words spoken in dreams.
Kok says that Tong observes the current state of affairs of the world in which truth and falsehood are creating confusion, and turns it into abstract and vague forms, allowing the audience to interpret them by themselves, producing different understandings and feelings. This dreamy “Somniloquence”, as sweet as it seems, represents “the artist’s alarming words to the world”, Kok says.
The exhibition runs until June 7 at AFA Macau on the 1st floor gallery of Tak Chun Macau Art Garden at 265, Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues. It is open daily (except Sundays and public holidays) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
As part of the government’s COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures, all visitors entering the venue have to wear a facemask.
For enquiries, please call 2836 6064 or visit the website www.afamacau.com.
http://www.afamacau.com/past.aspx?exhibitionType=d&type=macau
Photos: Camy Tam
