Kwun Tong Discovery｜"Hometown‧Stories" Yu Rongguang Watercolor Exhibition

Description

In the fast pace of life, many Hong Kong people are so busy that they even neglect to appreciate the scenery along the way. From March 21 to April 20, Hong Kong Art Folk held the "Hometown Story" Watercolor Exhibition of Yu Rongguang at the Discovery 02 Art Gallery on the Kwun Tong waterfront, exhibiting 30 masterpieces of the internationally renowned watercolor master Yu Rongguang. Through his unique perspective, gentle watercolors and flowing textures, he delicately depicts Hong Kong's ancient and modern iconic buildings, daily life in the streets and alleys, and the strong human touch, presenting the efforts of several generations of Hong Kong people in three dimensions. Half of the proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to Hong Kong Art Foundation Limited for the promotion of local art. In addition to actively doing charity work, Mr. You was also invited to serve as an instructor at the "You Rongguang Watercolor Workshop" to pass on art and connect the community.
Details: https://vessel.org.hk/zh-hant/news/detail/whatsnew/455/

From the 1950s to the present, four aspects present Hong Kong’s past and present people and events, and the extraordinary craftsmanship evokes memories

The exhibition is themed "Hometown‧Stories" and leads the audience to review Hong Kong's history and emotions through four aspects: "Historical Witnesses", "Street Style", "Nature and Humanities" and "Emotions and Memory". The artist uses his ingenious brushstrokes to weave together little-known stories of this city, from the Bank of China in the 1950s, the streets of Mong Kok in the 1960s, the Victoria Harbour in the 1970s, to the dazzling night scene of Wan Chai today; from the prosperous East-West fusion of Central to the tranquility of the Lei Yue Mun and Tai O fishing villages, to share his attachment to and hope for his hometown, evoking everyone's collective memories and resonance.

Primary school student Cheung Chau was inspired by sketching Street Well Star Ferry Victoria Harbour Waterfront See what Hong Kong people don’t see A unique perspective that inspires people

Yu Ziyan was already addicted to secretly drawing comics in class during primary school, and his art drawings were often praised by teachers and "posted in class". He said that the first watercolor sketch that left the deepest impression on him was the one he made in 1974 when he went to Cheung Chau with his art teacher to sketch. Now known as the "genius of light", he has focused on watercolor creation for many years. He is good at using light to see through materials and express images. His brushstrokes are delicate and moving, and his works full of sunshine have shocked the watercolor painting circles in Asia and North America. He has always been keen on passing on art and has many students all over the world. Born and raised in Hong Kong in the 1950s, he has witnessed the development and changes of Hong Kong over the years. Even though he has lived in Canada for many years, he has a different experience of this home every time he returns to Hong Kong. With his rich personal experience, he incorporates his insights into his works, delicately depicting the classic red 6C bus in Mong Kok that accompanied him growing up in the 1960s, the Mong Kok neighborhood "Dou Da Pai Dong", the red fire hydrants commonly known as "street wells", the Central Star Ferry Pier, the Bank of China Building with a mixture of old and new, and the Blue House in Wan Chai, etc., all kinds of Hong Kong customs and diverse culture, naturally revealing his deep feelings and expectations for his hometown. He said: "In the wheel of time, we Hong Kong people will be able to rise to the challenge with the unique perseverance of the Lion Rock and the resilience of flexibility. Let's encourage each other."

Cardboard boxes present the ignored blood and sweat

Hong Kong's back garden feelings 50 years apart

Tram hawkers Chun Yeung Street has a strong Hong Kong flavor

You is good at sharing some of the ignored daily life in our city with extraordinary insight and delicate brushstrokes, giving soul to his works. The work "Livelihood" exhibited this time uses a bundle of densely packed cardboard boxes to present the hard work and sweat of the grandparents hidden inside in a textured way; "How much is 5 yuan? 》 uses pears and wrapping paper in Hong Kong-style red, white and blue, and is well-known in the international art circles of Europe and Asia; "Love in Nam Sang Wai" is a work completed 50 years later, which contains the sweet memories of Yu Yu's sketching in this back garden of Hong Kong during a dating trip in the 1970s; "Industrial Building Landscape" expresses his feelings when he was quarantined alone in a San Po Kong Hotel; the exhibition also specially exhibits many of the latest works in 2025, "North Point Style" records the classic scene of the bustling people and hawkers avoiding trams on the century-old Chun Yeung Street during the epidemic.

Do charity to support Hong Kong Artland Folk Art Promotion Sign up for the watercolor workshop See the master's brushstrokes Half of the proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to Hong Kong Artland Folk Art Co., Ltd. for local art promotion. Yang Zhaoshan, founder and chairman of Hong Kong Art Folk Limited, thanked You Rongguang for sharing his painstaking works and extraordinary skills with the public, and for supporting organizations to continue to promote the development of Hong Kong art and connect with the community through the power of art. She described it as: "This exhibition is not only a visual feast, but also a journey of emotion and memory. Every stroke is full of warmth and meaning." You can also sign up for the "Yu Rongguang Watercolor Workshop" held at Discovery 02 on March 12th to see Teacher Yu's godly style. You will serve as a mentor and personally share the creative process and ideas of this exhibition. He will also demonstrate and guide beginners to create works with Hong Kong feelings as the theme to pass on the spirit of Hong Kong.

1) Livelihood

A bundle of cardboard boxes contains the hard work and sweat of the parents-in-law, and also contains a humble beauty. I would like to use my paintbrush to share these neglected and forgotten moments with everyone.

2) Guardian (II)

Fire hydrants, commonly known as "street wells", are most commonly red and yellow; red connects to fresh water, and yellow connects to sea water. I really like their shape, which has a classic feel. A fire hydrant is like a loyal firefighter, guarding the lives and property of Hong Kong citizens day and night, rain or shine.

3)      North Point Scenery

I returned to Hong Kong during the 2021 epidemic and went to Chun Yeung Street in North Point for a stroll. Chun Yeung Street has a history of nearly a hundred years and is one of the most prosperous streets since the establishment of North Point. When the tram enters the street market, the crowds and hawker stalls will habitually avoid it, so Chun Yeung Street has become one of Hong Kong's characteristic street markets. In recent years, it has been promoted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board as one of Hong Kong's tourist attractions.

4) Reflections of Hometown (Part 2)

Two years ago (2021), I returned to Hong Kong and went to Tai O for sightseeing and filming. The densely packed stilts on the water and the criss-crossing waterways make this unique little fishing village seem like a paradise. Time has left its mark; the iron sheets of the shed have rusted, and the wooden posts are covered with oyster shells, making it even more picturesque.

5)      Mong Kok in the 1960s

Mong Kok is where I was born and went to school. I moved to To Kwa Wan in primary one. Nathan Road was already bustling with traffic in the 1960s. The entrance of Qionghua Restaurant was where I took the 6C bus home. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the restaurant would hang up giant posters and lighting decorations, which was very lively and pleasing to the eye, and full of festive atmosphere.

6)      The old days

The old days of Hong Kong’s dai pai dongs have a kind of old-fashioned feeling. I remember when I was a kid, there were a few big food stalls downstairs from my home in Mong Kok. I especially liked the fish ball noodles and fried fish skin, the smell was mouth-watering. And those small stools placed on the long bench for people to sit on are very difficult.

7)      How much for 5 pieces?

I really like the shape of the pears. They are of different sizes and are very unique. I also like the white wrapping paper in the painting, which complements the pears very well. In the same year, his works were selected for special feature in the French watercolor magazine The Art of Watercolour, 20th issue. In 2023, he was invited to participate in the IWS International Watercolor Exhibition in Kobe, Japan. grateful!

8)      Love at Nam Sang Wai

Nam Sang Wai, with its fish ponds, reed beds, eucalyptus forests and other beautiful scenery, is Hong Kong’s back garden and a paradise for bird watchers and photographers. Between Nam Sang Wai and Shan Pui Village is the Kam Tin River. Residents of Shan Pui Village use the Hengshui Ferry to enter and exit the village, which is operated by boatmen paddling with oars. It is the only cross-water ferry still in operation in Hong Kong. This photo was taken during a dating travel sketch in the 1970s, and the work was completed 50 years later. It depicts a pair of small boats, with fishing nets hung up, moored on shore for rest.