Local Artist: Lam Tung Pang

Biography

Lam Tung Pang, a local artist, after graduated at the Department of Fine Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2002, he studied for a Master of Fine Arts degree at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in England the following year. He then opened a studio in Beijing to experience the art in China. Back to Hong Kong, he and his partners have set up their work studio in Fotan which annually open for public visit during “’Fotanian Open Studio Exhibition”.

Lam Tung Pang uses wooden board and charcoal to draw in traditional Chinese ‘ink wash painting’ style. However, not merely do his drawings portrait the natural sceneries as most traditional Chinese ink wash paintings do, but reflect his observation, feeling, and thought in his daily life and towards society.

Reason for choosing him for final paper

I choose Tung-Pang for my final paper is because his arts have a touch of humanity that I am able to relate to.

People nowadays are so busy that rather than really observe, they only glance at what they see. However, Tung-Pang likes to discover what is happening around him through observation. Then, he uses art as a tool to record his observation in his daily life, to write his own stories and to articulate his own thoughts and feelings. Therefore, his artworks are personal based on his own stories but, on the other hand, are actually more sympathetic and approachable to the audience. Seeing Tung-Pang’s works, for example, from the exhibition named “Drawing Observatory”, I can easily understand and try to experience his stories. 

http://www.lamtungpang.com/pages/posts/artists-in-the-neighbourhood-scheme-v-the-drawing-observatory-mdash-works-by-lam-tung-pang141.php

One of the works in the "Condition Series" (狀態) with the themes of conservation and the environment.

Moreover, Lam believes that not only an artist is an observer of society but also a participant that he can express himself through art to encourage his audience to explore and reflect on society.

Besides, Tung-Pang said that as a Hong Konger born in 70s, he was raised under colonial background which allows him to bump into a mix of western and Chinese cultures. Awakened of this unique cultural background, Tung-Pang also expresses his call of identity through his art series called ‘Long View Under Scrutiny’ (近觀遠望).

http://www.lamtungpang.com/works/Artworks/work/works/Pages/Long_View_under_Scruitiny.html

Fotanian Open Studio

Since the industries had migrated to the Mainland, artists turn the industrial lofts into art studio. During Fotanian Open Studio, these artists open their studio to the general public. Visitors and artists can openly share and exchange their experience in making art.

 This is the first time that I visit such big and organized exhibition which engages such a huge number of local artists. I really love the idea of visiting the studio of the artist. By explore artists’ workplaces and listen about their artworks and experience on making art, this brings the artists and me closer, making me easier to understand and appreciate their art works.

I like the way how artists use this abandoned lofts for their studios. The headroom of industrial lofts is high and spacious that gives artist a more relaxing and comfortable environment for thinking and creating art. My friends and I wish to rent a loft for our studio where we can make and put our architectural model. I can picture one day I can also join the Fotanian Open Studio and showcase my works to the public. Hope that is not a dream.

One of the favorite artworks I see in the exhibition is a sculpture produced by Joe Lee. First, I am attracted by the very real tree sculpture made of copper. And I try to look at it closer, I find there are two ladders: one leading from the ground to the house on the trees and the other one going from the house to the top of tree. Strangely, I don’t really get what it means. Then I look up, and surprisingly, there is another longer ladder above the tree, yes above the tree, hanging off in the air which links up to many giant wire-framed cubes. Finally I look at the title of the art work. It is called “Goals”. 

Suddenly, I get something from this work. Sometimes in the journey of chasing some goals, we may feel easy at the beginning. But as the journey goes on, we all meet some hitch, so called the neck of bottle. However, we have to take a risk and jump that gap. Just like how the person in the sculpture leaps from the tree top to the ladder above. Otherwise, if we give up, we never fulfill our goals, our dream and get stuck at the neck of bottle. Life is worth or not is up to whether you want to gamble or not. This reminds me of a song. “Life is just a gamble, so just enjoy the game” quoted from a song called “join the club” by Lucy Spraggan.

Another art piece I like very much is a head sculpture. I don’t know why. But when I look at ‘her’, I find a feeling of peace, silence and softness. Perhaps, it was ‘her’ vulnerable look that makes me want to treasure ‘her’ and the moment I look at her. With ‘her’ closed eyes, it seems that ‘she’ doesn’t look at me or ‘she’ is sleeping. Like the eyes of Buddha, that also gives people a sense of peace in their minds. Well, it looks so powerful, peaceful, and mortal to me.

Visiting Fotanian Open Studio not only truly opens my eyes toward the local art, but also nurtures my interest in appreciating different art form.