The Splendor of Objects

The Rui Cunha Foundation presents tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25th at 6:30pm, the Solo Painting Exhibition “The Splendor of Objects”, by Chan Man Kin, curated by Cai Guojie. The project was inspired by still-nature painting, taking the classic Dutch School genre as a starting point, and expanding it into the abstract universelike an explosive nuclear reaction.

The artist began this collection of 21 acrylic paintings with “Still Life with Peaches”, a piece created last year that would give meaning to the rest of the work. Inspired by the historical experience of the Dutch School of Art, «I started a discussion on the sense of security and stability needed for life: from specific objects to the examination of life and death, from gazing at death to express appreciation of life», he states in his proposal.

«By observing the inner space of a sliced peach—the peach pit—it seems like a small world. The peach pit serves as both the end and the beginning of new peaches, embodying infinite possibilities. Starting from this point, I delved into the relationship between the peach and its pit, from the microcosm of the peach pit to the macrocosm of the universe. This process gradually transitions from concrete to abstract forms, exploring the visual relationships expressed through the transformation of painting styles».

The entire process took place as a «philosophical discussion of existence and death». As he further revealed, «still life painting is a painting genre and form with independent aesthetic value and spiritual orientation in Western painting», and it «gives me a sense of personal stability, allowing my body and mind to quickly integrate».

Chan Man Kin has a recent Master’s degree in Visual Communication from the University of Macau (2024). He currently works as an artist at the Li Keran Academy and resides as an artist at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. His areas of study include graphic design, conceptual photography, and mixed media painting.

The artworks will be on display until July 6th, 2024.

Admission is free.
Don’t miss it!
For Macau, Further and Higher!

[Show as slideshow]