2026.08.07-2026.08.29

 

Curator's Foreword

 

When reflecting on the golden era of Cantopop, the oeuvre of over two thousand lyric compositions penned by Mr. Cheng Kok-kong stands as an indispensable treasure.

 

From the poignant longing in Wind Blows On, the reflective wistfulness of Years Flow Like Water, to the sincere tenderness of Need You Every Minute and the philosophical detachment of Capriccio — his lyrics have acted like gentle spring rain, nourishing our inner lives across generations and comforting countlessly many hearts, then as now.

 

Titled "Lucky Am I", this exhibition showcases a curated selection of Mr. Cheng’s calligraphy and ink paintings created over the years. It marks his first public solo exhibition in a decade, following his “A Stroll in the Art Garden” exhibition at Times Square, Causeway Bay in 2016.

 

Observing Mr. Cheng’s ink practice, one quickly notices that his calligraphy transcends academic rigidity, embodying instead the literati spirit of "brush and ink as traces of the mind." Furthermore, his paintings — spanning flowers and birds, figures, animals, and landscapes — abound with contemporary literati ingenuity and understated elegance, demonstrating his extraordinary artistic versatility and mastery across disciplines.

 

Ancient critics once praised the Tang poet-painter Wang Wei, remarking that "His poetry contains painting, and his painting contains poetry." A similar resonance echoes through Mr. Cheng’s art today: savoring his lyrics reveals vivid imagery and poetic mood between the lines; quietly contemplating his paintings, every stroke of brush and ink reverberates with poetic sentiment and melodic shadows.

 

This milestone exhibition, ten years in the making, invites all who cherish Mr. Cheng’s lyricism, ink art, and the broader world of art to pause, immerse, and savor.

 

As you wander through these inkscapes, may you hear that long-treasured song in your heart and, amidst a tranquil moment in time, share in this deep resonance born of Cantopop and ink art.

 

— Heiman Ng (Curator)