Foreword

Sun Museum relocated to 1 Sai Yuen Lane in 2024. To mark the inauguration of our new premises, we launched the inaugural "Hong Kong Paintings in Sai Yuen Lane" Exhibition — an open call for paintings from artists across Hong Kong. The overwhelming response and encouraging results inspired the Museum to establish this exhibition as a permanent biennial event. Our goal is to provide a continuous and open platform for painting in Hong Kong, for the artistic soil of this city is far richer than imagined and deserves to be consistently seen. Thus, this year, we once again open the "art box" of Sai Yuen Lane.

“The 2nd Hong Kong Paintings in Sai Yuen Lane" received over 700 applications, surpassing the first exhibition — a truly heartening achievement. We return the power of selection to the eye rather than the resume. Veteran artists and many previously unknown names show their astonishing works in the museum gallery. Their brushstrokes capture the vitality of markets, the silence of landscapes, and the poetry of the everyday. This not only reflects the flourishing energy of local art but also confirms the trust and expectations placed in the "Sai Yuen Lane" platform. Every applicant, whether selected or not, is an indispensable part of Hong Kong’s visual arts ecosystem. A total of 118 works by 93 artists were selected for this exhibition, which are held in two phases: Phase I runs from 26 June to 20 August, and Phase II from 29 August to 18 October. The exhibits are organised by theme: Phase I focuses on cityscapes and figures, while Phase II features landscapes, animals and plants, and abstraction. This arrangement ensures each piece has ample space to be presented and gives the audience time to savour different genres. From ink, oil, acrylic, and mineral pigments to pastels, prints, and mixed media, the selected works encompass a vast array of mediums, showcasing the broad spectrum of technique and concept among local artists. Some depict the silhouette and warmth of the city; some dive into the crevices of memory and dreams; some use colour to combat nothingness, while others use lines to untangle chaos. Each shine with an undeniable brilliance.

We remain committed to an open spirit — regardless of age, seniority, or style. This time, we sought not only technical mastery but the "truth" behind the work — that inimitable personal vocabulary and the attitude of painting honestly in a boisterous era.

Sun Museum maintains three curatorial pillars: "Sun Delight," "Sun Connect," and "Sun Salon." "Hong Kong Paintings in Sai Yuen Lane" Exhibition is curated under the "Sun Salon" framework, aiming to transform the Museum’s gallery into a space for artistic exchange. "Sai Yuen Lane" is more than just an exhibition title; it is an artistic source that began in an ordinary alleyway. We hope that through these paintings, visitors will encounter unexpected moments of inspiration and witness the inexhaustible creative power of this city.

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Lesley F.H. LAU

Director, Sun Museum