Alphonso Wong
Strange Tales, 1970
Ink on paper, 27.6 x 29.7 cm
‘Old Master Q’: Alphonso Wong exhibition at Sotheby’s Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery hosts the selling exhibition, ‘Old Master Q: What The @#$% Is Going On? Original Works By Alphonso Wong’, to take place from 9 to 29 August 2014.]]>
Source: Sotheby’s
Featuring more than 120 original comic illustrations, dating between the 1960s and the 1980s, from the legendary and beloved ‘Old Master Q’ by Alphonso Wong Kar-hei (well-known by his pen name, Wong Chak), ‘What The @#$% Is Going On?’ is the largest selling exhibition by the artist worldwide. Comic strips in four- to six-frame formats as well as comic covers will be showcased.
First published in Hong Kong in 1964, ‘Old Master Q’ was immediately well-received, and has been enjoying great popularity for half a century in Chinese communities around the world. In a light-hearted and humorous style, Old Master Q depicts social realities, among them the conflicts associated with the meeting of Chinese and Western cultures. Now-legendary characters Old Master Q, Big Potato, Mr. Chin and Miss Chan serve as vehicles for Wong’s observations of social, cultural and technological development in Hong Kong. Traditional Chinese proverbs, employed in a contemporary setting, become outlets for Wong’s profound insights into the people, places and everyday life of Hong Kong. This exhibition will bring the celebrated Old Master Q back to life, delighting today’s audiences with its enduring sense of humour and inspiration.
Angelika Li, Gallery Director, Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery, said: “This summer, we are thrilled to present at our Gallery an exhibition of Old Master Q by Alphonso Wong, one of the most iconic comics and cultural touchstones in the Chinese-speaking world. Showcasing more than 120 original artworks, this exhibition provides viewers with a glimpse into the artist’s creative process as well as the historical context behind this classic comic series. It also enables us to understand the social and cultural significance of comics and how they have become an important genre within both art and popular culture. Wong’s fascinating imagination of characters and witty story-telling capture life in detail and also offer a social commentary on the development of Hong Kong from the 1960s to present. His works also reflect a philosophy of life and romance with which we can all resonate. Timeless and charming, Wong’s Old Master Q is an enduring icon that encapsulates the collective memory of Hong Kong communities, as well as of the Chinese diaspora around the world.”
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