Carl Cheng Chi Ming– [art]attack 22

Carl Cheng Chi Ming was born and grew up in Hong Kong. He graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

But his love for art prevailed and he completed his Masters in Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (Co-presented by Hong Kong Art School) in 2008. He is devoted to teaching art and developing the art scene in Hong Kong through his studio “Arthome”, created in 2004.

The Exhibition
The Master said: “Hard is it to deal with he who will stuff himself with food the whole day, without applying his mind to anything meaningful! Are there not gamesters and chess players? To be one of these would still be better than doing nothing at all.”
- Yang Huo, The Analects of Confucius

Through four Chinese games, Carl Cheng Chi Ming explores and reflects on themes and behaviours in our present lives. He questions the balance between intelligent strategy and pure luck, the effects of risk and chance and how these dynamics reverberate throughout our lives. Through large scale art installations, visitors experience rather than passively view his work, encouraging them to feel and reflect on elements of human nature: When do we attack? When do we defend? When do we take risks? When does it all fall to chance? Through his work, Carl also suggests elements of Chinese culture that are highlighted in the games: ways of thinking, of interacting; he considers what roles these games play in the Chinese way of life and whether these provide interesting microcosms to investigate society.

The four Chinese games that provide the basis for his study are:

Go
Go is the oldest strategic board game in China. It is a simple, 2-player game where the player who dominates the board wins the game. Though the rules are simple they provide unlimited possibilities.

Chinese Chess
This game enacts a battle between two armies, with the objective being to capture the enemy's "general" piece. It is devoid of chance and determined by strategy and tactics. However, unlike Go, there is an hierarchy among the pieces.

Mahjong
Mahjong is the most popular game in Chinese societies. It is a multiple-player game, introducing a diverse range of intentions and attitudes to the game. Winning is dependent on both cunning strategy and good luck.

Promotion Roadmap for Officials
A spinning top or a roll of the dice determines the promotion path of a player from an illiterate to the senior government official. This game depends solely on the player’s luck.