Chou Yu-cheng Paintings Reflect on Birth and Renewal

Description

Chou Yu-cheng’s new exhibition, borrnnn, at Kiang Malingue Hong Kong, features more than a dozen paintings shaped by the artist’s experience of becoming a parent. Drawing on the joy and transformation surrounding the birth of his first child with artist Yang Chi-chuan, Chou uses ripe gourds and fruits as recurring motifs—symbols of fertility and enduring life in Chinese culture.

The exhibition follows the evolution from his earlier Imaginary Body series, where organic forms emerged in anticipation of new life. In borrnnn, these forms become more vivid, as Chou applies self-ground earth pigments to paper, assembling the pieces into colourful, gradient compositions. The technique highlights both the technical subtlety and the emotional openness at the heart of his work.

Whether suspended, mounted, or perched on pedestals, the paintings invite viewers to consider the relationship between object and environment. Referencing the proverb “fall of the ripened gourd,” the exhibition reflects on the cycles of birth and renewal, making borrnnn a thoughtful meditation on life’s beginnings through the lens of contemporary art.