Simon Lee Gallery is proud to present the first solo exhibition in America of new works by Hong Kong-based artist Chris Huen Sin Kan. With no prior sketching or planned outcome, Huen’s large-scale oil paintings are derived from observation of his own life, portraying quotidian experiences through a fresh set of aesthetic strategies. In constructing a constellation of moments that compose his daily life, Huen imbues domestic representational painting with both deft abstraction and the hallmarks of traditional ink painting.
Maintaining an acute awareness to their surroundings, the paintings depict the people, activities, and landscapes near the artist’s home and studio. Based in the remote area of Yuen Long, located in rural land north of the dense urban center of Kowloon, Huen paints an extended narrative revolving around a recurring cast of characters that includes his wife Haze, son Joel and dogs Balltz, Mui Mui and Doodood. This new set of works finds Huen portraying the night, enabling him to experiment with a darker, more saturated palette.
