Connecting Through Flowers

I remember being fascinated when Zhuang Hong Yi’s work at REDSEA Gallery back in 2015 – the textures, colours and almost 3D feel made his artworks feel like a mix of sculpture and painting. Now he’s returning to the gallery with a new exhibition of themed canvases.

- REBECCA BISSET

Born in 1962 in Sichuan, Zhuang is considered one of China’s most influential artists. He now shares his time between his studio in China and his residence in Switzerland, and it’s this mix of Chinese background and European influence that really marks his work.

Zhuang’s art has been showcased in over a hundred exhibitions across the globe, including solo exhibitions at the Found Museum in China, the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, Germany’s Ulm Museum, the Erarta Museum in Russia, and at the 55th Venice Biennale in Italy in 2013.

The photographs of him “in action” give a hint of the joy and energy that go into his work – and his answers below confirm this. As he says, “We might not all speak the same language, but we can all read flowers…”

You’ve come a long way since your move from China to the Netherlands in 1992. What’s been the biggest change in your art perspective or creative approach since then?

The most significant evolution in my artistic career has been the transition from abstract art to a contemporary and impressionistic style. Prior to creating my first flowerbed piece in 2005, my focus primarily revolved around painting abstract portraits and landscapes on large canvases. During this period, my work often delved into weightier subjects and often featured some darker colours.

However, when I introduced the colour-changing technique to my flowerbed series in 2015, my artistic endeavours began to garner increased recognition and appeal. Since then, my style has gradually transformed into a more contemporary approach, characterised by the use of flowers, bold colours and expressive strokes of paint.