LOT 40
CHEUNG YEE (ZHANG YI)
B. China, 1936
Writing, 1936
Signed “Cheung Yee”, dated 1983 and numbered 44/50
Embossed paper
87 x 63 cm
Private Collection, Singapore
RM 5,000 – RM 12,000
Cheung’s touch may seem simple but behind the simplicity are intricate carvings of archaic forms and cryptic symbols which illustrates various narratives. Be it an ancient Chinese poem of a distant past, writings, story-telling figurines of legends, engraved fortune telling tortoises or I-Ching hexagram patterns, it is these profound features that sets him apart from other artists, drawing the attention of art aficionados.
Born in 1936 in Guangzhou, China, Cheung Yee thrived as a painter and sculptor with his incredible skill of producing works which encapsulate the olden times. He is well known for being the pioneer of incorporating Chinese elements in western art forms. Not only is he a notable artist whose eminent artworks are extraordinarily distinct, he is also very highly respected as he has mentored many of Hong Kong’s aspiring artists, having been the professor of fine art at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.