Old ink, new tricks: Hong Kong reboots a classical medium

From sculptural to AI-powered creations, Chinese ink art is evolving fast

Tranquility 2, 2017, by Margaret Yeung Kwok Fan, Courtesy of the Artist.jpg

"Tranquility 2" (2017) by Margaret Yeung Kwok-fan: Yeung makes no distinction between her sculptural work and ink art, saying, “If our art can show ink spirit, then we are doing ink art.” (Courtesy of the artist)

NICHOLAS STEPHENS

May 30, 2025 08:00 JST

HONG KONG -- In this fast-paced international city, cosmopolitan urbanites might be expected to focus on the latest artists from London or New York, leaving classical paintings to gather dust.

The city is Asia's contemporary art hub, home to the regional headquarters of the international auction houses Sotheby's, Phillips and Christie's, the major contemporary art museum M+ and more than 60 commercial galleries. Asia's largest art fair, Art Basel Hong Kong, took place in March.