The Influence of Abstraction – The Fifth Moon
Galerie du Monde is pleased to announce its participation in Art Basel in Hong Kong as part of the Insights sector in Booth 3D27, with a presentation of work by the Fifth Moon Group, alongside a concurrent exhibition at the gallery space. Highlighting the importance of the group in the history of Chinese contemporary and modern art, Galerie du Monde will showcase a series of rarely seen early works at Art Basel in Hong Kong in March. This will be complemented by an exhibition of later works at the gallery itself; the longest running contemporary art gallery in Hong Kong. Together the two presentations will provide visitors with an overview of the Fifth Moon Group movement and its context, as well as the artworks created by this group of historically influential artists spanning over five decades.
Starting in the 1950s, the Fifth Moon Group of Chinese artists were at the forefront of the modern art movement in Taiwan. Their avant-garde approach incorporated American abstract expressionism into traditional Chinese ink painting and ushered in a new era of Chinese contemporary art. The Fifth Moon Group was founded in 1956 by Liu Kuo-Sung who is acclaimed as ‘The Father of Modern Ink Painting’ and its first exhibition was organized in Zhong Shan Hall, Taipei, in 1957. Since this initial event, the group exhibited work in May every year. The Fifth Moon Group was synonymous with boldness and innovation as well as upholding liberty through subject matter, concept and its presentation of art. Consequently the group is considered a pioneer of Taiwan’s contemporary art groups and is profoundly influential to the development of art in Taiwan and Greater China.
For Art Basel in Hong Kong, Galerie du Monde will present important early works between the 50’s and 70’s by Fifth Moon members: Liu Kuo-Sung (b.1932, Anhui, China), Hu Chi-Chung (b. 1927 – 2012, Zhejiang, China), Fong Chung-Ray (b. 1933, Henan, China) and Chen Ting-Shih (b. 1913 – 2002, Fujian, China). Important archive materials relating to the early Fifth Moon movement, such as catalogues, invitations, photos and letters at the Insights sector, will also be curated within the display. The Insights sector at Art Basel in Hong Kong presents projects by galleries based in the Asia and the Asia-Pacific region and representing artists from the region – from Turkey to New Zealand, including Asia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
Alongside the presentation at Art Basel, Galerie du Monde will also host an ambitious exhibition The Influence of Abstraction – The Fifth Moon, focusing on the Fifth Moon inside the gallery space in Central Hong Kong, showing the development of the artists’ career by presenting works after the 70s to recent years. This exhibition follows a successful presentation of the Fifth Moon Group at the gallery in April 2016, which was organized following the retrospectives of Liu Kuo-Sung in 2014 and Fong Chung-Ray at the gallery in 2015. Hu Chi-Chung’s solo exhibition will also be held in late April at Galerie du Monde this year.
