Ting Yin-yung (1902–1978) was a native of present-day Gaozhou,  Guangdong province. Returning to China after studies in western painting in Tokyo in 1920–1925, Ting worked in the field of art in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing before settling in Hong Kong in 1949. During those times of hardship, he embarked on a long artistic journey to straddle the realms of both Chinese and Western art. Starting his career with oil painting, he was hailed as the “Eastern Matisse” after the French Fauvist painter whose work he appreciated especially. He later turned to traditional Chinese ink painting, as well as calligraphy and seal carving, heavily influenced by Bada Shanren (1626–1705) which earned him a reputation as the “Modern Bada Shanren”.

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Ting’s art is particularly noted for transcending the East-West divide, with delightful innovations on time-worn subjects. His expressive ink painting, executed with simple, child-like brushstrokes, marks him as a major pioneer in twentieth-century Chinese painting by common assent.

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On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of Ting’s passing, his former students and friends at the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK, are organizing the present exhibition in his memory and donating their cherished works of his over the past few decades to the permanent collection of the Art Museum, CUHK.