Wucius Wong (1936) is a famous painter who works with Chinese ink, being one of the main references of the movement known as New Ink in Hong Kong. In turn, it is considered the most important exponent of two-dimensional and three-dimensional design.
He is originally from Guangdong Province, China, although he grew up in Hong Kong. He was influenced by Lui Shou-Kwan, with whom he took his first steps in Chinese ink painting in 1955.
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His role has been fundamental for the promotion of modern literature and art, being also a member of the One Art Group. He has also played an important role as an art educator and administrator, bringing to Hong Kong many of the theories and concepts used in the modern era by Westerners. He was in charge of spreading these ideas thanks to the publication and the organization of events.
His influence has been so important that he helped develop and teach design courses that have served to train a large number of designers.
Biography
Wucius Wong was born in 1936 in Taiping, a province that is part of Guangdong, in China. From a very young age, his place of residence was Hong Kong, where he first showed interest in Western painting style and design.
At first, literature was also part of his interests, although little by little he leaned more towards the plastic arts and specifically in design.
Wong's first steps in design were made by studying and experimenting with traditional concepts, albeit with a turn towards more modern details and elements. He became one of the great exponents of his style, with works exhibited all over the world.
During the 1950s, Wong moved to the United States. There she enrolled in the Columbus College of Art and Design, an institution located in Ohio. Some time later she also studied at the Maryland Institute of Art, which is located in Baltimore, an institution where she obtained a Bachelor's degree and a master's degree.
After completing his training in the United States, Wong decided to return to China. He got a job as a curator at an art museum. He also taught at the Swire School of Design, part of the Hong Kong Polytechnic.
In the 1970s, he was awarded a scholarship by the John Rockefeller III Foundation. This helped Wong to carry out an important series of studies that have to do with how Western languages can be reflected with the use of elements such as lines, lights and / or textures.
Book
The Fundamentals of Design book is one of Wong's most important contributions to the world of design. This publication has become a bedside book for all design students, since all the definitions and details about two- and three-dimensional design are exposed in great detail in the work.
In Fundamentals of Design, the principles of visual grammar, which refers to the art of creating visual messages, are exposed and grouped in a simple way. These principles are essential when making a graphic construction.
The book is made up of three parts, which refer to the compilation of three texts by Wong. The first part was published in 1979 and was titled Principles of Two-Dimensional Design. In this initial stage, Wong talks about the simplest concepts that have to do with flat representations or abstract forms.
The second part is called Fundamentals of Two-Dimensional Form. Here Wong focuses more on the way the shapes should be created. It expanded on previously used concepts.
Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Design constitutes the third part of the book. Study how planes and lines meet to create different representations.
Design definition
For Wong, for a design to be considered as something good or well done, it had to represent in the best possible way the properties or attributes of something. This something could be a message, an object, or just a product.
One of the keys for this representation to be successful is that the design had to take into account a context. Collect information to determine the best way to create something, but also to manufacture it, distribute it, later use it and that it could be integrated into the environment without causing cultural or social clashes.
Wong explained that "creating something should not only be aesthetic, but also functional, while reflecting or guiding the taste of its time."
Other works
In addition to his major work, Fundamentals of Design, Wong published further publications on design. He wrote The Tao in Chinese Landscape Painting, Principles of Color Design, and Digital Graphic Design.
Most of his works are available in Spanish, English and Chinese, the author's native language.
As for artistic works, Wong made various works that were exhibited throughout the world. He painted Reminiscence no.2 in 1975, with ink on paper, Searching for mountains in 2005, which was also a work done with India ink on paper.
Then, in 2009, he performed Running water forever # 12 and Mountain melody # 1. Both works were done in ink and Wong added color to them on paper.
Characteristics of his paintings
The paintings that Wong made during his career were composed by the use of geometric elements and imposing landscapes. Her works are built following the principles established in graphic design.
The landscapes seen in Wong's paintings are often portrayed as solitary places that reflect a certain peace. Some scholars claim that her paintings reflect the same characteristics of poetry and nostalgia that she managed to convey when she wrote.
Mix elements of the West with the use of classic Chinese ink. In his calligraphy there is also a relationship between the strokes he makes and the negative space that remains.
His works are not translated only in black ink on white paper. Rather, the background is painted, has geometric designs, and elements with different tones are superimposed. These details made it possible to move the more traditional Chinese art to a new terrain and give it new characteristics.
References
- I love Vázquez, J. (1993). Elements of visual arts theory.: Castilla-La Mancha university.
- . (2000). Kaikodo journal..
- Kuo, J., & Newland, J. (2010). Chinese ink painting now. New York: DAP / Distributed Art Publishers.
- Wechsler, J. (1998). Asian traditions / modern expressions. Taipei, Taiwan: Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
- Wong, W. (1972). Principles of two-dimensional design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.