Lee Ching Man

1941, Guangzhou China

Introduction

Born in 1941 Guangzhou China, Lee Ching-man relocated to Hong Kong in 1949. In the 1950s she began her painting career as an illustrator. In the early 1960s, she began learning western painting and enrolled at the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she learned Chinese water and ink painting, Chinese traditional painting, and theory; at the Extra-mural Department of the University of Hong Kong she learned lithography. These courses and practical work experience laid a solid foundation for her career as an artist. Her teaching career began in 1964 when she founded Lee’s Studio an art school for children. She later taught and held painting classes at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in the 1970s. From 1990-93, Lee taught in the Department of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong. In 2002, she became the instructor of an art teachers training programme organized by the Art Education Association. From 2003-05, Lee offered courses in Chinese water and ink painting and painting technique at the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since 1973, she has been engaged in a number of large-scale wall painting projects, both local and overseas. Examples include the retrospective projects for both the old Hong Kong History Museum (formerly located inside the Kowloon Park) and the new one in its current Chatham Road site. Since 1974 she has been awarded many accolades for her paintings and artworks, which include both local and overseas awards such as the Hong Kong Urban Council Art Award, the United Kingdom Art Award, and the Japanese Housing Design Award. Lee has taken part in over 100 solo and joint exhibitions since 1970, and her paintings and artworks have been collected by many museums in Hong Kong and abroad, including the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Art Museum of Harvard University, USA, and private collectors.


BIOGRAPHY
1941    Born in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
1949    Moved to Hong Kong
1950s    Started her career as an illustrator 
1960s    Began learning Western painting at Ling Hoi Art Academy, Hong Kong
Enrolled in a Chinese Ink Painting course taught by Lui Shou-Kwan in the Extra Mural Department, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong 
Began studying Chinese ink painting, technique, art history, and theory and studied Lithography at Extra Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong
1964    Began teaching career, founded the Lee’s Studio, an art school for children
1973-present    Engaged in a number of large-scale mural projects in Hong Kong and overseas including Meridien Hotel, Singapore; Sheraton Hotel, Xi’an, China; Retro Projects for both the old Hong Kong History Museum and the new one in its current Chatham Road site
1977    Winner of the Fine Art Award in Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1977-84    Taught painting classes at the Hong Kong Arts Centre
1990-93    Taught in the Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong
2002    Instructor of an art teachers training programme organized by Art Education Association, Hong Kong
2003-05    Offered courses in Chinese ink painting and painting techniques at Extra Mural Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Present    Lives in Canada

  

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 
1994    

  • Regional Service Department of Hong Kong, Tsuen Wan Town Hall Exhibition Gallery, Shatin Town Hall Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong 

1983    

  • Mitsukoshi Enterprises, Mitsukoshi Gallery, Hong Kong

1979   

  • Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
  • The Collector’s Gallery, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore

1976

  • Quorum Galleries, Hong Kong
  • Goethe-Institut and Hong Kong Arts Centre, Goethe-Institut, Hong Kong
  • Bank of America and Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

                          

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 
2015

2009  

  • Visual Arts Thematic Exhibition: Hong Kong · Water · Ink · Colour – Exhibition of Chinese Paintings 2009, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong

2007

  • Contemporary Hong Kong Ink Exhibition, organized by the Hong Kong Modern Ink Painting Association, Hong Kong

2006

  • Contemporary Hong Kong Ink Exhibition, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong

2004  

  • 10th National Exhibition of Art, Invitational Exhibition of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, organized by Ministry of People Republic of China, Chinese Artists Association and Hong Kong Art Development Council, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan

2001   

  • Retrospective and Forecast, Group Exhibition of Hong Kong Modern Chinese Ink Painting, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan

2000  

  • New Century of Chinese Ink Painting: The Exhibition of Chinese Ink Painting from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong
  • 30th Anniversary Exhibition of One Art Group 2000, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong

1997   

  • Osaka Trienale 1997 – Print Competition Exhibition, Osaka Prefectural Government, Osaka, Japan

1994   

  • One Art Group 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
  • Kyoto 1200 year Anniversary Exhibition, organized by Kyoto International Exchange Association and Kimono Designer Association, Kyoto, Japan
  • Art Works by Hong Kong & Macau Women Artists, Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture, Hong Kong; Galleria de Livraria Portuguesa, Macau

1992

  • Exhibition of Korean and Hong Kong Artists, TOTAL Contemporary Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
  • Recent Works by Fine Art Award Winners, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1989

  • Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Women Artists in Hong Kong and Macau, Museum Luis de Camões, Macau

1988

  • Collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art – Ink Paintings by Hong Kong Artists, Hong Kong, London, United Kingdom
  • Hong Kong Modern Chinese Painting, Touchstone Gallery, Hong Kong

1985

  • Hong Kong Art Biennale Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
  • Shui Mo – The New Spirit of Chinese Tradition, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1982  

  • Contemporary Vision of Landscape, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1981  

  • Benson and Hedges Selection of Hong Kong Art, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1980   

  • Hong Kong Art Award Winners Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong 1979  
  • Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennale Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1977  

  • Contemporary Hong Kong Art 1977, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1975  

  • Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1972  

  • Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong       
  • New Directions in Chinese Painting: 11 Contemporary Chinese Artists, Art Museum of University of Kansas, Kansas, United States

1971   

  • Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, Taiwan Provincial Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

 

SELECTED AWARDS
1974   United Kingdom Art Award, United Kingdom
1977   Winner of Fine Art Award, Contemporary Hong Kong Art Competition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1979   Japanese Housing Design Award, Japan

 

SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 
Harvard University Art Museum, Massachusetts, United States
Chinese Cultural Centre, Vancouver, Canada
National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong 
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong