“ Continuing the lineage of Chinese tradition and promoting great painters from the Chinese art community have always been the mission of Chelesa Art. History has never judged artworks solely based on whether they are new or old. A true masterpiece should stand the test of time and be perpetually relevant. At any give time, the value of an artwork can be influenced by numerous factors. But those works that have staying power are the ones that exemplify historical lineage and classical elegance. ”
- Mr. Siu Fai Lung
Founded by Siu Fai Lung in 1978, Chelesa Art specialises in the promotion of the deep cultural lineage of Chinese ink art and the continuation of this invaluable tradition for over 40 years. In 2000, Chelesa Art opened its second location in Wukang Mansion, a heritage building in the former French Concession area of Shanghai, in an effort to increase the presence and reach of the ink discipline in Chinese art.
A trailblazer in the 1970s, Chelesa Art was one of the rare few galleries in Hong Kong that focused on ink art practices. Chiefly representing artists from the Shanghai School, the gallery collaborated with giants of the 20th century art world such as Lu Yanshao, Chen Peiqiu, Zhu Qizhan, Liu Haisu, Cheng Shifa, and Xie Zhiguang. Moreover, the gallery team’s intimate knowledge of the secondary market enables them to incisively analyse market trends and provide collectors with personalised collection strategies. Servicing both seasoned and young collectors, Chelesa Art offers insightful consultations for auctions and private sales that are tailored to the clients’ individual needs. Numerous works by masters such as Bada Shanren, Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Wu Guanzhong, Huang Binhong, Pan Tianshou, Lin Fengmian, Li Keran, Fu Baoshi and Wu Changshuo have been successfully acquired for collectors through the expert advice of Chelesa Art.
Director Angel Siu formally joined the Chelesa Art team in 2012. Not only does she continue to uphold the founding principles and mission of the gallery, she also infuses Chelesa Art with new blood — Siu vigorously participates in art fairs both locally and internationally. She is frequently seen in media coverages and academic discussion forums furthering the understanding of Chinese ink art. In addition, as one of the founding members, Siu also prolifically hosts education programmes such as talks and panel discussions in partnership with Hong Kong Antique and Art Galleries Association in order to increase the public’s interest in traditional Chinese ink art.
In recent years, Chelesa Art collaborates extensively with a new generation of ink artists in preparation for a series of exhibitions in both China and overseas to explore the boundless possibilities of contemporary ink art.