Ha Bik Chuen's Motherboards and Collagraphs at Para Site
From May 10 to August 24, 2025, Hong Kong's Para Site will present 'Reframing Strangeness: Ha Bik Chuen’s Motherboards and Collagraphs,' the first extensive exhibit of the acclaimed artist's printmaking. Ha, originally from Xinhui, Guangdong, was born in 1925 and relocated to Hong Kong in 1957. He began cataloging local art activities during the 1980s. Recent discoveries in his studio revealed over 100 collagraph plates from the 1970s to the 1990s, described as 'motherboards,' showcasing his innovative techniques and artistic evolution. Notable pieces include 'From Ancient to Modern' and 'Composition / Dream of Leaf.' The exhibition will also be covered in ArtAsiaPacific's September/October issue.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Reframing Strangeness' at Para Site, Hong Kong, May 10–Aug 24, 2025
- First comprehensive survey of Ha Bik Chuen's printmaking
- Ha Bik Chuen (1925–2009) born in Xinhui, Guangdong, settled in Hong Kong in 1957
- Over 100 previously unseen collagraph plates from 1970s–90s discovered
- Plates called 'motherboards' (母版), blending 'mother' and 'printing mold'
- Materials include disused wooden crates, jute bags, copper plates, sawdust, leaves
- Works merge European modernism (Picasso, Matisse) with Asian motifs
- Exhibition featured in ArtAsiaPacific issue 145 (Sep/Oct)
Entities
Artists
- Ha Bik Chuen
- Pablo Picasso
- Henri Matisse
- Le Corbusier
Institutions
- Para Site
- M+
- Asia Art Archive
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- University of Hong Kong
- ArtAsiaPacific
Locations
- Hong Kong
- Xinhui
- Guangdong
- Macau