Tang Contemporary Art is thrilled to present “Fragrance of the Night”, an exhibition by Chinese contemporary artist Qin Qi, marking the artist’s debut solo presentation in Hong Kong and his second solo show with the gallery. Curated by Cui Cancan, the exhibition will focus on the artist’s fascination with colonial history and exotic lands.
“Fragrance of the Night” was released in the 1940s. It was thought to be an “anesthetic” song for the people in the enemy-occupied territory and regarded as decadent music. The song became widely popular, with nearly a hundred covers performed by many singers. Another meaning of the exhibition title is “tuberose” which is a type of plant that grows in Southeastern China, tropical Asia and South America. It is a night blooming flower that is known for its intense fragrance and exotic culture.
Qin Qi’s paintings have strong exotic flavours and colonial themes that will be soon exhibited in the city with a dual colonial history. In the history of art, it inadvertently touched upon the most important hidden clues of early modernism, borrowing ideas from African and maritime culture, and the waves of colonialism played a major role in the formation of early modernist style. In reality, Qin Qi’s works, song “Fragrance of the Night”, Hong Kong’s history and this moment merge into a single entity.