Wish upon a Rock: Ma Desheng's Touring Solo Exhibition

3812 Gallery proudly announces the addition of Ma Desheng (b. 1952) to our artist portfolio. Based in France, Ma is a renowned Chinese artist who was honoured with a solo exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2022. Recognising his outstanding contributions to the art world, the French Ministry of Culture awarded Ma the prestigious "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (Order of Arts and Letters). His works are held in esteemed collections, including the British Museum (London), Centre Pompidou (Paris), and the M+ Museum (Hong Kong).

We are delighted to present "Wish upon a Rock," Ma's touring solo exhibition, which will debut at 3812 Gallery Hong Kong in March 2024 and later tour to our London gallery. The Hong Kong exhibition will run from March 11th to April 12th, 2024.

The exhibition aims to celebrate and showcase Ma's exceptional lifelong artistic journey. The highlight of the show is Ma's iconic acrylic "Rock" series, which features the exclusive debut of his unreleased earliest and latest pieces. This collection carries a poignant story of resilience and triumph. Despite a tragic car accident in 1992 that left him paralysed from the waist down, as well as losing the love of his life, Ma displayed unwavering determination. Through two years in the hospital and eight years of rehabilitation, he regained mobility. Using a custom rotating easel and acrylic paints, he continued to create art, showcasing his indomitable spirit. In 2002, the ground-breaking "Rock" series was unveiled, representing a new pinnacle in his artistic career and symbolising his resilience and triumph over adversity.

As a co-founder of the "Stars Group," a pioneering contemporary art collective in China, Ma Desheng has dedicated his life to exploring the modernisation and contemporisation of Chinese art. In his own words from 1980, "Art is a universal language shared by humanity. It should not be confined to Eastern or Western categorisations, which create a sense of division. Only through their fusion can a revitalised and enhanced artistic language emerge, much like the growth of plants." Ma draws inspiration from Western modern art and seamlessly integrates it into his works, blending it with profound Chinese aesthetics and philosophy to create a new artistic language. The rock series featured in this exhibition represents the culmination of his artistic career and spiritual exploration, standing as an exemplary fusion of Eastern and Western art in the 20th century.

"I have known Ma Desheng for over 20 years, from being a collector of his artworks to becoming a good friend. I am truly honoured to have the unique opportunity to represent Ma and host his touring exhibitions in Hong Kong and London. Over the past four decades, Ma, with his unwavering attitude toward life and his pursuit of freedom and experimentation, has made significant contributions to the modernisation of Chinese art. This resonates with the core values of 3812, 'Eastern Origin, Contemporary Expression.' As Ma's words of encouragement to me go, 'The world is in your hands, the light is in your hearts. Let's create brilliance together in 2024.' We eagerly look forward to joining Ma Desheng and reaching new heights together."

—— Calvin Hui, Curator of "Wish upon a Rock" and Co-founder of 3812 Gallery