King of Canton: Yang Jiechang

Although southern China’s Guangdong province has been the birth place of emperors and Chan Buddhist patriarchs, it has never had its own king. Now is the time for Hong Kong’s Hanart TZ Gallery to fill in this gap, claims Guangdong-born artist, Yang Jiechang, in the exhibition catalog to his current solo show. The gallery is doing precisely that, dutifully carrying out Yang’s decree in their one-room gallery space on Pedder Street with the exhibition “King of Canton,” composed of six works, including new pieces created this year. In a variety of media and techniques, including traditional ink painting, black sandalwood, a video installation and neon light, Yang aesthetically reflects on his home province’s history and physical attributes, claiming it is so “blessed” it can stand alone, as its own country.