Art Central 2025 Booth B10 "Seven" Contemporary Lacquer Art

---

Curated and presented by

The Gallery by SOIL

The exhibition “Seven” explores the Chinese pronunciation of lacquer (qi) featuring seven contemporary lacquer artists from Japan and China. Showcasing three-dimensional sculptures and paintings, the display highlights the innovative spirit and cultural richness of lacquer art. Each artist employs diverse styles and techniques, pushing the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship. They use lacquer not just as a medium but also to express personal narratives and philosophical ideas through their intricate works, while also exploring the endless possibilities of colors that lacquer art may offer.

展覽名為「七」，源於「漆」「柒」的中文發音（qi），呈現七位來自日本和中國的當代漆藝人的卓越作品，展示了立體造型與繪畫，彰顯漆藝的創新精神與文化豐富性。所選藝術家風格各異，技法多樣，勇於突破傳統漆藝的框架。他們不僅將漆作為媒介，還透過精湛的創作表達個人概念和哲學，而且打破「漆」的黑沉沉，呈現「七」彩無窮的現象。 

VIP Preview Tuesday, 25 March | 2 pm – 8 pm By Invitation Only

Night Central

Wednesday, 26 March | 5 pm – 9 pm

General Admission

Wednesday, 26 March | 12 pm – 5 pm

Thursday, 27 March | 12 pm – 7 pm

Friday, 28 March | 12 pm – 7 pm

Saturday, 29 March | 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday, 30 March | 11 am – 5 pm

Exhibition Venue ：

Central Harbourfront

9 Lung Wo Road, Central,

Hong Kong

Limited number of complimentary tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Please email to team@craftbysoil.com indicating your full name, telephone number, and email address.

---

Exhibition Highlights 展覽亮點

Ichizo INO 伊能一三 perceives the shapes of all beings as vehicles, each form guiding us to better places. He treasures lacquer for its dual nature: a flexible bond that is sensitive to the whims of temperature and humidity. To him, this material is essential in crafting his “vehicles for peace,” where animals become symbols of hope, embodying dreams of harmony and kindness.

Haruka SOTOME's 五月女晴佳 works vibrantly celebrate color and glamour, intentionally highlighting and exaggerating stereotypical feminine objects. Her bold forms powerfully convey female empowerment, emphasizing strength and resilience. Each piece is not just an artistic expression but also a statement that uplifts and champions the gender.

Mine TANIGAWA's 谷川美音 lacquer sculptures evoke a dance of supple lines and graceful curves, each piece a testament to unique artistry. Striking a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation, these contemporary creations embody a delicate lightness and captivating structural forms. Meticulously polished, they fuse modern materials like fibre-reinforced plastic with the timeless beauty of urushi, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship that reflects the depth of Japanese lacquer techniques in every flawless finish. Her artwork has been recently included in the permenant collection of the V&A Museum in London.

SHI Yuguang's 石宇光 lacquer paintings merge simplicity and complexity, flowing like prose in a stream-of-consciousness style. Abstract color blocks and lines disrupt the typical heaviness of lacquer, creating seemingly spontaneous yet carefully crafted forms. His work reflects an inner self, embracing lightness and purity.

This effortless style is surprising, given the patience and mastery required by lacquer, a medium shaped by time and technique.

GUO Tiantian  郭天天 enjoys manipulating lacquer colors to reveal their vibrant qualities. The natural deep brown base and oxidation can make colours seem dark and difficult to control at first, but with experimentation, she achieves desired hues. By creating her own lacquers and layering applications, she enhances the texture and depth, bringing colors to life, imbuing them with a vibrancy and depth that transcend mere surface beauty.

YAO Bangliang's 姚邦亮 creations are not only an exploration of the possibilities of lacquer materials but also experiments in how to tell stories through the material itself. It aims to establish a non-verbal way of communication that directly touches the emotions and thoughts of the viewer. These artistic practices reflect a deep investigation into the properties of materials and their role in contemporary art, as well as ongoing efforts to modernize and reinterpret traditional lacquer art. 

HU Jiebin's 胡傑彬 “A Quest for My Old Town” series appears minimal at first glance. Yet they embody his unique visual language. Many details that seem like architectural elements actually originate from his hometown in Quanzhou. There is a sense of hesitation, as if he is searching for a distant yet familiar homeland in a dream. 

Visit us at

Art Central 2025

Booth no. B10

The Gallery by SOIL

If you feel interested in any artworks and would like us to arrange a guided viewing for you at Art Central, please email to team@craftbysoil.com or WhatsApp 95593908. 

若您對任何作品感興趣，而希望可安排導覽，請電郵至 team@craftbysoil.com 或 WhatsApp 95593908 ，我們樂意為您服務。

Part of these artists' works are also on view at our gallery as part of Tai Kwun Art Week.

這些漆藝家的部分作品也在我們位於大館的藝廊同時展出 Till 至 27.4.2025.

---

The Gallery by SOIL is dedicated to presenting the art of lacquer from Asia. It is probably the first gallery in Hong Kong which brings together lacquer masters and artists of diverse cultures, blending the traditional with the contemporary to showcase variety in the discipline.

Gallery Address:

Shop 102, 1/F, Barrack Block, Tai Kwun,

10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

香港中環荷李活道10號大館營房大樓一樓102店

Special Business Hours during Art Central:

Opens only 26 March, 28 March and 29 March 12nn - 6pm

Normal Business Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 12nn - 6pm

Enquiry: 9559 3908

Email: Team@craftbysoil.com