On May 2, sculptor Dr. Van Lau to joined President Ng Ching Fai at the opening ceremony for 2012’s WPE-Arts & Culture Development Centre’s Final Show.
Dr. Van talked about his creations of Chinese and Western art forms. “Bamboo is very important in traditional Chinese art and culture. My sculptures are constructed in the modern western style which signify a blend of Chinese and Western aesthetics,” he said.
Full Leaf (1988) 66x66x45cm. The work demonstrates the characteristic approach of Dr. Van's work, which integrating the forms and structures modern urban space.
Dr. Van’s early pieces are experimental with references to revolutionary art during 1960s; his later and present works are much more focused in shape and structure.
students at Q&A session
Dr. Van Lau has been working all over the world, but his passion in his homeland remains strong. He has won numerous prestigious awards, and is active in fine arts education at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Fudan University and in Hong Kong. He received an honorary doctorate at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2010.
Dr. Dr. Van (left) is appointed as UIC WPE-Art Centre’s Honorary Advisor by President Ng
A brief chorology of Dr. Van Lau, 1950s-1990s:
1959 Graduated from the Fine Arts Department, National Taiwan Normal University
1964 Held an exhibition at the Hong Kong City Hall
1965 Obtained scholarship from the Institute of International Education of U.S.A. to visit .........the America
1968 One of Dr. Lau’s sculptures was exhibited in LUZ Gallery, Manila.
1970 Awarded Samuel Finley Breese Morse Medal in the 145th Annual exhibition of the .........National Academy of Design, New York.
1979 An exhibition of his work was sponsored by the Hong Kong Arts Centre
1984 Organized the first Hong Kong Open-Air Sculptures Exhibition
1987 'The Art of Van Lau', presented by Hong Kong Museum of Art
1992 'The Exhibition of Sculpture by Van Lau', presented by Hsiung Shih Gallery in Taipei; .........'Van Lau Sculptures Exhibition', presented by Sichuan Gallery
1999 Awarded a Bronze Bauhinia Star by HKSAR.
He is now the Chairman of the Hong Kong Artists Association and the President of the Hong Kong Sculptors Association.
reporter: Sze Ying Cheong
photo: Lingwei Wu
(from MPRO)
