Glenn Ligon Opens First Hong Kong Exhibition at Hauser & Wirth with New Abstract Text Paintings

From March 25 to May 11, Hauser & Wirth will host Glenn Ligon's inaugural exhibition in Hong Kong, featuring works from his Stranger series (1997–) alongside his new Static series (2023–). The Static paintings reinterpret a white-on-white piece from Stranger using black oil stick, symbolizing distorted transmissions. Ligon draws inspiration from influential Black intellectuals such as Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin, seeking to engage viewers. He observes that Baldwin's prominence has shifted since the 1980s. The exhibition also includes graphite and carbon rubbings influenced by Xi'an stone monuments. Ligon acknowledges the impact of late Impressionists and graffiti culture, linking his art's intricacy to Baldwin's 1953 essay 'Stranger in the Village' and contemplating the progression of Black culture.