Tong sculptures hold seductive allure

Tong King-sum (1940 - 2008) spent his childhood on Lantau Island, where he nurtured a love for nature. Many of his works are of fruits and the human body, with a sleek form and texture.

 

Tong used live models to make quick sketches or to film before he crafted a sculpture, to pay meticulous attention to detail. In 2005, he created a sculpture called “upside down” which required the model to do a handstand.

 

Ms Mok recounts that the model had to take frequent rests from the demanding pose, during which he offered her tea and snacks, and chatted with her at length.

 

“For him, it was important because the communication between the artist and the model would give a sentimental touch to the work,” said Ms Mok.

 

Skillful craft

The artist also created a series of works associated with wings. Four are on display, namely Wings, Back Fin, Fin and Spread, all from the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum collections.

 

Tong’s friend, renowned artist and writer Chung-hing, has said there was a pair of wings in the artist’s heart. These works may reflect his ultimate wish to let his creativity take flight.

 

Ms Mok hopes visitors pay special attention to Tong’s technique. To highlight the delicacy of his sculptures, the museum designed special rotating lighting for some exhibits.

 

“Anyone who has experienced wood carving would know one single mistake as you strike, it would mean you have to redo everything again, it would be failure. So you would see all the strikes and all the cuts are being very skilfully executed, and it shows the level of craftsmanship in his carving,” she said.

 

Art a porter

The exhibition includes a special piece from the personal collection of Tong’s widow, Chiu Wai-yee. One evening in 1995, she was fretting over what to wear for a banquet the following night. As an artist herself, she did not want to overdress, but wanted to wear accessories with character and style.

 

Her husband is said to have told her, “Stop searching, a tiny gift will be ready for you tomorrow. You will be second to no other ladies at the banquet.”

 

Tong worked in his studio through the night, and his wife awoke to find a necklace of wooden beads in various sizes on a thin leather string on the bedside table.

 

A childhood illness made walking difficult for Tong, but this did not prevent him from fully pursuing and exploring the world of art. He co-founded the Visual Art Society in 1974 and received the Urban Council Fine Arts Award (Sculpture) in 1977. In 1995, he retired from his job as a government designer after 23 years, during which he received countless commendation letters. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2008 presented him with the Award for Best Artist (Visual Arts).

 

Positive perspective

Ms Mok said the artist and his family did not want people to focus on his physical disability, based on Tong’s belief that there should be no distinction between works by artists who are physically sound and those who are impaired, and that having physical defects should not add credit to one’s works.

 

The first piece in the exhibition is Tong’s last. Mrs Tong named it Unfinished Work as Tong was preparing the piece of wood with markings and incisions, but died before the sculpture was complete.

 

“We hope the audience will fully appreciate the positive perspective, or outlook to life in the artist, that nothing is impossible for him,” Ms Mok said.

 

“You will be able to understand that behind outstanding work is an outstanding life.”

 

“Tempting Touch - the Art of Tong King-sum” runs at the Hong Kong Museum of Art until December 31.