Line Today - Interpreting the Power within Paintings through Contextual Curation Han Art Space showcased "Starry Sky—Cen Long and His Art" at the Church of St. John in Malta.

Han Art Space has long been committed to presenting the most fundamental aspects of art—truth, goodness, and beauty. Through carefully curated exhibitions, the gallery shares the profound connotations of artworks with every visitor. The aim is to make the detailed expressions of the overall spatial atmosphere reflect individual artists' accomplishments in literature, philosophy, and music, as well as their contemplation. The gallery also maintains a commitment to the quality of the exhibition structure, providing each visitor with an experience akin to a spiritual baptism.

From May 11 to November 24, 2019, Han Art Space organized a special exhibition titled "Starry Sky—Cen Long and His Art" at the Church of St. John in Malta, concurrently with the 58th Venice Biennale. This exhibition, curated by international curator Metra Lin, showcased the works of the renowned contemporary Chinese artist Cen Long, enriching the local perspective with an international outlook on contemporary art. Notably, this exhibition marked the first time an art event was held at the Church of St. John in Malta.

As curator Metra Lin expressed, "Through Cen Long's paintings and the solemn atmosphere of the church, I hope to create a sacred yet approachable realm. Cen Long's paintings are like the shining stars in the night sky, bringing love and hope, purifying the hearts of the viewers."

The tension of the works permeates the Church of St. John in Malta. An art-centric exhibition, compared to general informative exhibitions, requires attention to and consideration of various aspects. In addition to systematically organizing contextual information, one must also consider the feelings evoked in the viewers by the interplay of light, artworks, and the spatial atmosphere. These experiences should lead to a deeper extension of interpretations related to the senses, connecting with the cultural context of the exhibition venue, ultimately providing the artwork's perspective and viewpoint in the contemporary era.

In the exhibition "Starry Sky—Cen Long and His Art," the curator carefully intertwined Cen Long's ideologies and spirits (love, hope, and perseverance) across different categories such as selection criteria, contextualizing the works, visual and spatial elements, literature and music, and local culture.

Examining Cen Long's works, one can observe the artist's distinctive visual vocabulary—bold yet flowing brushstrokes, abstract geometric compositions, precise rendering of figures and animals, dynamic expressions, and a balance in overall composition and lighting. The detailed and intricate emotions of the artist are palpable, reflecting Cen Long's sincere feelings. As the curator noted, "Through different brushstrokes, we can appreciate his meticulous strokes and lines. He often uses hard brushes and palette knives to create textures, adding intricate variations to purely imaginative expressions." Cen Long's artwork possesses a strong visual language that transcends the simplicity of pure colors, penetrating the viewers' hearts and demonstrating the vitality that substantiates its display in the Church of St. John in Malta.

The curator further explores the thematic connections between the exhibited works, presenting them to the viewers in a contextualized manner. The exhibition features Cen Long's latest works from 2018-2019, divided into three parts: "The Birth of Life," "The Journey of Life," and "The Sublimation of Life."

"The Birth of Life" and "The Journey of Life" symbolize hope, as described in the curator's statement: "The Birth of Life includes content such as nurturing and maternal love. We can experience the beautiful moments of the beginning of life through the exhibited work 'Life Praise.' The painting 'Sea Women's Festival' depicts sea women disembarking from fishing boats, toiling day and night for survival, depicting scenes of perpetual labor. The fisherwoman on the right holding a torch implies the nocturnal temporal environment and represents the artist's attitude towards life. He believes that the only belief that can sustain survival is hope."

"The Sublimation of Life" delves into the essence of human behavior, exploring kindness and love. In the painting "Starry Sky," a shepherdess searching for her way home under the night sky symbolizes the primitive aspirations of humanity through the symbol of starlight.

Combining the exhibition's structural arrangement with the cultural attributes of the local space, the curator emphasizes the relationships between the artworks and the existing elements. The curator strategically placed Cen Long's "Life Praise" below a religious painting "Annunciation," intending to create resonance between the two works. The religious painting above inspires a sense of the power of religious indoctrination and an understanding of snippets of biblical stories. Cen Long's "Life Praise," on the other hand, allows viewers to experience the precious maternal love and familial bonds in ordinary life, radiating the brilliance of simple and kind human nature. The curator aims to infect the audience with Cen Long's paintings, guiding them towards the essence of truth, goodness, and beauty. This faith can be religious or represent people's steadfast beliefs in goodness and love, propelling us toward a purer human nature. Such beliefs and ideologies play a crucial role in the harmony and tranquility of the world, irrespective of the past, present, or future.

In summary, curator Metra Lin's exhibition techniques are delicate, considering both academic and experiential aspects for the viewers. Using a situational approach, she extends the visual tone and textual content of the artworks into the spatial atmosphere. This is especially evident in the carefully staged lighting at every angle, creating a theatrical presentation of Cen Long's conceptual artwork. This approach actively engages viewers, providing a different exhibition experience compared to the passive encounters of the past. The lasting impression left on the audience is not only the unique visual quality of the artworks but also the profound and timeless awakening of artistic value embedded in collective memory.

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