Artist – Kan TaiKeung

KAN TAIKEUNG

靳埭強

B.1942

World-renowned graphic designer and ink artist, Kan TaiKeung’s works often take inspiration from landscape views, natural elements such as pine trees, mountains, clouds and flowing water. Kan fuses traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy with cursive scripts and elements of graphic design that results in a simple and refined modern composition. His use of negative space and expressive ink techniques can be attributed to the ideas of Daoism that have influenced Chinese painters for centuries.

Biography

Born in Guangdong province in 1942, Kan TaiKeung has resided in Hong Kong since 1957. His passion for painting was encouraged by his grandfather early in his childhood. Kan first studied art and design in 1964, then sketching and watercolor painting with his uncle Kan MayTin. In 1967, he took design classes under the teachings of Wucius Wong and Chinese ink paintings by Lui ShouKwan at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Two years later, he began creating his own ink paintings and became a member and chairman of the One Art Group. He embarked on his design career in 1967 where his works won him numerous prestigious awards around the world. Since 1969, Kan has devoted himself wholly to ink painting and is one of the most multi-faceted and representative figures of the New Ink Movement in the 1970s. He continues to be actively involved in art and design to this day.

Internationally acclaimed, Kan’s works are frequently exhibited around the world and collected by private collectors as well as many prominent museums, namely the Hong Kong Museum of Art; Hong Kong Heritage Museum; Guangdong Museum; Taiwan Provincial Art Museum; Leal Senado de Macau; Museu Luis de camoes; Minneapolis Institute of Art; The Art Society of the International Monetary Fund (Washington); Hong Kong Jockey Club; Cathay Pacific Airways Limited; HSBC Bank; The Chase Manhattan Bank; Bank of East Asia; Hong Kong International Airport Authority; and Beijing Television & Broadcasting Station. His ink paintings were also presented by the Hong Kong government as diplomatic gifts to the former Prime Minister, former Diplomatic Minister and former Financial Minister of Japan.

Notable exhibitions and achievements

Solo Exhibitions

2022
“Mini Ink Art Exhibition: Kan TaiKeung”, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

2020
“Aoyama Creators Stock 18: Paper+Stone by Kan TaiKeung”, Tokyo, Japan
2019
“Kan TaiKeung Art & Design Exhibition”, Dalian Art College, Dalian, China
2016
“Ink as Superior”, Guangzhou, China
2012
“Hong Kong Design Legacy and Beyond: The 70 Fruitful Years of Kan TaiKeung”, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong
2010
Solo exhibition, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2008
Solo exhibition, University Museum & Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong
2002
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
1991
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong
1990
“Recent Ink Paintings by Kan TaiKeung”, Hong Kong
1989
Solo exhibition, Isetan Department Store, Tokyo, Japan
1988
Solo exhibition, Museum Luís de Camões, Macau
1986
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong
1984
Solo exhibition, Minneapolis, USA
1980
Solo exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong

Awards

2016
HKDA Lifetime Honorary Award, Hong Kong Designers Association, Hong Kong
2010
Honor of Silver Bauhinia Star, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
2005
Honorary Doctorate of Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1999
Honor of Bronze Bauhinia Star, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
1998
Outstanding Achievement Award, Hong Kong
1995
1st Prize, 1st International Computer Art Biennial, Rzeszów, Poland
Who’s Who in Graphic Design in the World
1991
Designer Award, Hong Kong Artist of the Year, Hong Kong
1987
2nd Hsing Shih Biennial Award, Taiwan
1984
Gold Award, International Art Competition, Los Angeles, USA
The only designer to receive an Urban Council Design Grand Award, Hong Kong
1981
Hong Kong Urban Council Award (Painting category-Chinese media), Hong Kong
Gold Award in Mercury Award, New York, USA
1st Prize, 1st International Computer Art Biennial, Poland
1979
1st designer elected as “Top 10 Outstanding Young People in Hong Kong”