Lingnan’s CYS Hall presents a new exhibition on time across the ages - Featuring The Space Series by Liu Kuo-sung, the ‘Father of Modern Ink’
The opening reception of Fleeting, Fleeting Light—Imagery of Time in Chinese Art at the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall, Lingnan University.
President S. Joe Qin delivers the address.
Dr Stephen Suen, Representative of Chamber of Young Snow, delivers the address.
Lingnan University’s Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall presents a new exhibition featuring rare ink paintings, porcelain, lacquerware, and jade, spanning from the late Yuan dynasty to the modern era.
Lingnan University’s Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall presents a new exhibition featuring rare ink paintings, porcelain, lacquerware, and jade, spanning from the late Yuan dynasty to the modern era.
In the fast pace of urban life, time slips quietly away amid daily routines. From 6 March to 4 September, the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall at Lingnan University presents Fleeting, Fleeting Light—Imagery of Time in Chinese Art, featuring 24 rare ink paintings, porcelain, lacquerware, and jade dating from the late Yuan dynasty to the modern era. The exhibition highlights the internationally acclaimed Space Series by Liu Kuo-sung, revered as the father of modern ink painting. The seasons, landscapes, immortal realms, and cosmos shown here invite visitors to think anew about the meaning of time.
Curated by the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries at Lingnan University, and generously supported by loans of precious antiques and contemporary works from the Chamber of Young Snow, the exhibition explores how Chinese art transforms the abstract notion of time into a perceptible visual language.
At the opening reception, Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, thanked the Chamber of Young Snow for its longstanding support and said, “In an age shaped by the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technology, art offers us a space to pause and reflect on the passage of time. As a research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences, Lingnan hopes that this exhibition will help people discover the deeper meanings embedded in Chinese art and serve as an important platform for cultural inheritance and preservation.”
Dr Stephen Suen, Representative of Chamber of Young Snow, said “As a connector between the Chinese Mainland and the world, Hong Kong SAR uses art and culture as effective tools for foreigners to understand our profound civilisation and philosophy, which has a history of 5,000 years. For example, this exhibition successfully applies common visual imagery to understand the profound Chinese philosophy of time and space (宇宙), originating around 400 BC (Warring States period, 戰國時期). It even aims to touch on some concepts beyond time and space, the phenomenon Xu Guo (虛霩) originated from Daoism (道家). This sophisticated philosophical. This sophisticated philosophical phenomenon (虛) has a corresponding saying in Buddhism from a similar period in another oriental country, India, called Akasa (虛空). These profound Eastern philosophical concepts can be learnt through direct experience ⸻ what is known in Chinese culture as spiritual practice (修行) ⸻ through the exquisite exhibits presented in this exhibition.”
The exhibition is organised into three sections, presenting different dimensions of time in Chinese art.
‘A Year in View’
These flower and bird and landscape paintings, and the seasonal motifs on porcelain and lacquerware, look at the Chinese understanding of time as both cyclical and linear. Flowers and natural landscapes with distinctive characteristics throughout the year have long been used for emotional expression.
‘Unending’
Focusing on porcelain and jade, these images of eternity depict mythical beasts, their spatial arrangement on objects, and the material qualities of jade. In the decorative arts, eternity signifies the unbroken continuation of an ideal state.
‘The Course of the Sun’
In Liu Kuo-sung’s Space Series, the relationship between the sun and the earth is reinterpreted, expanding the conceptual boundaries of time.
A carved black lacquer circular dish with the two birds among flowers design; Yuan to Ming (1271–1644); The inscription ‘Xinmao cyclical year, made by Pan Tingjian’ was added later. Lacquer; Dia 30.5 cm; Chamber of Young Snow Collection
Highlights from the exhibition include:
A carved black lacquer circular dish with the two birds among flowers design, Yuan to Ming (1271–1644)
In the ‘A Year in View’ section, the classic decorative motif of this dish has appeared since the Northern Song dynasty. The camellias symbolise the passage from late winter to early spring, capturing the rhythm of renewal.
Floating Peaks in Warm Emerald Hues (1948) by Huang Junbi
Also in the ‘A Year in View’ section, this painting presents a summer landscape in refined brush and ink. It depicts lush mountain scenery, inviting viewers to step into a woodland and experience the rhythm in which time and nature coexist. Landscape painting is an important genre in Chinese art, where the seasons play an important part.
Floating Peaks in Warm Emerald Hues; Huang Junbi (1898–1991); Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper, 1948; H 173 cm W 77.9 cm; Chamber of Young Snow Collection.
Jade flattened vase carried by a mythical beast; Qing (1644–1911); Jade; H 14.3 cm; Chamber of Young Snow Collection.
Jade flattened vase carried by a mythical beast, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
This jade vessel in the ‘Unending’ section may derive stylistically from ancient bronze ritual vessels used in sacrificial rites. Jade has long been regarded as a medium connecting heaven and earth, symbolising immortality and continuity.
The Sun Changing Colours (1971) by Liu Kuo-sung
This painting in the ‘The Course of the Sun’ section is from Liu Kuo-sung’s Space Series, inspired by the famous Earthrise photograph taken in 1968. Liu began working on the series in 1969, combining Chinese ink traditions with Western collage and acrylic techniques. This work expresses the flow of time from a broader cosmic dimension.
The Sun Changing Colours; Liu Kuo-sung (1932–); Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper, 1971; H 185 cm W 46 cm; Chamber of Young Snow Collection.
Dr Yang Lok-man, Curator of the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall at Lingnan University, explained “The concept of time is closely linked to the formation of our worldview, and art has the power to transform intangible time into concrete visual language. Through a diverse range of artworks, this exhibition presents the many dimensions and imagery of time in Chinese art. We hope to explore with our audience how these elements come together to shape the world we see.”
Exhibition souvenir: an A6 string-tie vertical plastic envelope.
To commemorate the exhibition, CYS Hall has prepared a free limited edition A6 envelope for visitors, although CYS Hall reserves the final right of distribution.
Exhibition Details:
Fleeting, Fleeting Light—Imagery of Time in Chinese Art runs from 5 March to 4 September 2026. Admission is free. Details are as follows:
Venue: | Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall, 3/F, Patrick Lee Wan Keung Academic Building (South Wing), Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong SAR |
Opening hours: | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays) |
Enquiries: | (852) 2616-7466 |
Email: | |
Reservation link: | https://forms.office.com/r/6qfiGCrrKJ?origin=lprLink (Visitors should book at least three working days in advance.) |
For more information about the exhibition, please visit: