An exhibition at Artstation features the work of three highly regarded senior Chinese artists living in Auckland: painters Bang Zhen Deng and An Chang Tang, and sculptor Lu Bo.

An exhibition at Artstation features the work of three highly regarded senior Chinese artists living in Auckland: painters Bang Zhen Deng and An Chang Tang, and sculptor Lu Bo.

Entitled The Cultural Bridge, the exhibition looks at the influence that living in New Zealand has had on the three artists. Lu Bo, for instance, settled in Auckland with her husband, Bang Zhen Deng, and their son in 1992.
 
“My work has definitely changed,” Lu Bo says. “It’s still grounded in traditional Chinese art but I use different, brighter colours now. There’s more light in New Zealand. And of course, the subject matter has changed.”
 
The exhibition was the brainchild of Jade Min, a younger generation Chinese curator with a background in documentary making. “At first, the artists didn’t realise that their work had changed but their friends in China were quick to comment on the change.”

"Sense of freedom"

She says that New Zealand offers Chinese migrant artists a “sense of freedom” to pursue their artistic ideas – something that’s reflected in their work.
 
Last year, when Jade was studying for a masters degree in arts management at Auckland University of Technology, she told classmate Warren Pringle about her ideas for an exhibition.
 
Together, they approached Artstation with the exhibition concept and have been working on turning the idea into reality ever since. The exhibition will feature 15 paintings and six sculptures.

“There are some very talented artists from Asia living in Auckland but it’s often difficult for them to exhibit in New Zealand,” Warren explains.  “It can be hard for them to get exposure because of the structure of art galleries and because sometimes, people don’t want to engage with the work, which is not seen as New Zealand enough.”

Close friends of Rewi Alley

Lu Bo and Bang Zhen Deng were both close friends of New Zealand educator, writer and reformer Rewi Alley, who spent 60 years in China and became one of its best-known and best-loved foreigners.
 
Lu Bo has done several sculptures commemorating Rewi Alley, including those in Lan Zhon, China; and in Auckland and Springfield, Canterbury where Rewi Alley was born in 1897.

A number of Bang Zen Deng’s paintings, including one of Rewi Alley with a group of Chinese children, are included in the collection of the National Library of New Zealand. His painting Memories of Otago, which won the 2009 Waitakere Trust Art Award, is included in the exhibition.

An Chang Tang has enjoyed learning from artists of different cultural backgrounds since settling in New Zealand in 1999. He says the environment here is like a poem and he has developed a strong sense of light and colour in his paintings. He is keen to add clouds to his artwork because he thinks New Zealand has beautiful clouds.  

Passing on their knowledge

All three artists still exhibit their work in China. They also teach art to young Chinese people living in New Zealand as a way of passing on their knowledge of traditional Chinese art.

These days, Lu Bo and Bang Zhen Deng’s son is a successful contemporary artist. Although he regards New Zealand as home, he has returned to China and works in Beijing because it is easier for him to show his work there.

Auckland gallerists and influential art people will be invited to the opening of the exhibition. It is, says Warren, a process of education and engagement.

The Cultural Bridge continues until 15 May 2010.