"VOYAGE" showcases the captivating work of acclaimed artist Dominique Chan. Born in France, based in Hong Kong, and a graduate of the prestigious Rietveld Academy, Chan presents a retrospective overview of his impressive career.
Join us from March 22nd to April 13th, 2025, as we celebrate Chan's remarkable artistic voyage. You are warmly invited to visit the gallery on:
Sunday April 6 & April 13 from 14 to 18pm
Or by Appointment.
Dominique Chan: A Voyage Through Color and Culture
Dominique Chan's art is a vibrant tapestry woven from his diverse experiences and cultural influences, a chronicle of his life's journey. Born in France in 1950 to a French mother and Chinese father, Chan's upbringing in Brittany and Paris instilled in him a unique perspective that blends European and Asian artistic traditions. This fusion is evident in his work, a dynamic interplay of styles and motifs.
From 1968 to 1975, Chan embarked on a journey through Europe, honing his skills as a street artist. This period of exploration and self-discovery led him to Amsterdam, where he worked as a draftsman at the Rijksmuseum and studied at the Rietveld Academy from 1980 to 1985. These formative years in Amsterdam nurtured his artistic development and exposed him to a wide range of artistic styles and ideas, though his work defies easy categorization. While his Rietveld background provided a foundation, his art seems to spring from a more primal, intuitive place.
A pivotal moment in Chan's artistic journey came with his travels to China, where he immersed himself in the language and culture of his father's homeland. These experiences deeply influenced his work, infusing it with elements of Chinese calligraphy, motifs, and philosophical concepts. Even the fragments of Chinese newspapers find their way into his collages, a direct link to his heritage.
Chan's art is characterized by its exuberant use of color, bold brushstrokes, and a sense of spontaneity that captures the energy and dynamism of life. His canvases teem with figures, often women, engaged in everyday activities or fantastical scenarios. Cats, fish, cyclists, and a myriad of other elements populate his compositions, creating a rich visual narrative that invites viewers to explore and interpret. These figures, sometimes rendered with a calligraphic flourish, are often drawn from memory, impressions of people and places encountered on his travels. From the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii and Thailand to the somber reflections on events like the assassination of Rabin and 9/11, Chan's art becomes a diary of his experiences.
Chan's technique can be described as "action painting." He attacks the canvas with an almost frenetic energy, the paint applied directly from the tube or pot. This directness translates into a powerful sense of immediacy, as if the viewer is witnessing the creation of the artwork in real-time. The vibrant colors, applied with a seemingly impulsive yet controlled hand, contribute to the overall energy and dynamism of his compositions.
While Chan's work may appear chaotic at first glance, there is an underlying order and harmony that emerges upon closer inspection. His compositions are carefully constructed, with each element playing a role in the overall narrative. His art is a reflection of his own life journey, a voyage through diverse cultures, experiences, and emotions. He invites the viewer to "read" his paintings, to decipher the stories hidden within the layers of color and form. Each brushstroke, each figure, each seemingly random splash of paint contributes to the overall narrative, offering glimpses into Chan's memories, thoughts, and emotions.
Chan's art is not confined to canvas. He also works with ceramics and wood, creating painted sculptures that echo the themes and motifs found in his paintings. These three-dimensional works further demonstrate his versatility as an artist and his ability to translate his unique vision across different mediums.
Currently residing on Kat O (Crooked Island) in Hong Kong with his wife, Chan's vibrant artistic spirit continues to flourish. He has not only transformed his own home into a colorful haven but has also begun to leave his artistic mark on other parts of the island, further demonstrating his engagement with the world around him.
"VOYAGE" offers a comprehensive overview of Dominique Chan's artistic journey, showcasing the evolution of his style and the recurring themes that permeate his work. The exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in Chan's vibrant world, a world where color, culture, personal experience, and the raw energy of creation intertwine to create a unique and captivating artistic vision.
Past exhibithions
Ankara - Turkey - 2016
Kunsthandlung Kugel - Duisburg, Germany - group exhibition - 2012
Artlease - Utrecht - 2010
Kunsthandlung Kugel - Duisburg, Germany - solo exhibition - 2007
Livingstone Gallery - Den Haag - Zomerbeelden 4 - 2005
Livingstone Gallery - Den Haag - Zomerbeelden 3 - 2004
Kunst Centrum Zaanstad - Zaandam - zomerexpositie - 2004
A Chinese View on Delft Blue - Delft, The Netherlands - 2003
Galerie Myaki - Osaka, Japan - 2001
Livingstone Gallery - Den Haag - 'Even Terug' - 2001
Galerie Horst Dietrich - Berlin, Germany - 2000
Galerie Vromans - IJlst Netherlands - 1992
Civic Centre - Kuching, Malaysia - 1991
Seasons Galleries - Den Haag, The Netherlands - 1991
Singapore Art Museum - Singapore - 1990
Basel Kunstmesse Art - Switserland - 1989
Basel Kunstmesse Art - Switserland - 1988
In Art Collections of:
Emine Şenses - GreyArt Istanbul - Turkey
Alzheimer Society - Ankara - Turkey
Institut Français - Ankara - Turkey
Çankaya Belediyesi - Ankara
Hiroko Nagaoka - Tokyo - Japan
Hiroyuki Matsushita Tokyo - Japan
Harumi Inoue - Kyoto - Japan
Masahiro Furuta - Tokyo - Japan
MS Junko Yamasaki - Hiroshima - Japan
Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap - The Netherlands
Kunstcollectie Ministerie van Justitie - The Netherlands
AMC Brummelkamp Galerie en AMC-vitrines - The Netherlands
Kunstcollectie KPN - The Netherlands
Galerie Livingstone - Den Haag - The Netherlands
Ballast Nedam - Amstelveen - The Netherlands
Cote d’Or - The Netherlands
Axa Kunstcollection - The Netherlands
Kunstcollectie Nationale-Nederlanden - The Netherlands
