Ethereal Echoes: Sketches and Recent Works by Lai Loong Sung

Curator: Vicky Ho Pei Ying 

Ethereal Echoes – it’s a melody from the heavens and a sound born within humanity. 

— Lai Loong Sung (14.4.2024)

Ethereal Echoes

The term “Ethereal Echoes” or “Tianlai” (Heavenly Sound), first appeared in the book “Zhuangzi” in the section “Discussion on Making All Things Equal”. Chinese scholar, Yang Liuqiao remarked in his work “Translation and Commentary on Zhuangzi” that, “Zhuangzi used the term ‘lai’ or sound as a metaphor for musical tones, which he further expanded to represent the sound of languages. He categorised sounds into three types: Renlai or human sounds – refer to speech that distinguishes between right and wrong, Dilai or earthly sounds – encompass sounds that transcend judgment, while Tianlai or heavenly sounds – represent the unspoken word, or soundless sound”.

As such, “Ethereal Echoes” are the sound of heaven, as well as the resonance that resides in the human heart.

One night, as Malaysian artist Lai Loong Sung lay awake under a starry sky while listening to Chopin’s nocturnes, he was struck by inspiration. This moment led him to conceive the title for his exhibition: “Ethereal Echoes”. These echoes signify both the silent whisper of the universe and the reverberations of the human world, also embodying the artist’s profound reflections on humanity, society, and our shared future.

This exhibition will showcase around 80 manuscripts by Lai Loong Sung for the first time. These works were created from 2017 to the present, and will be displayed alongside selected oil paintings from 1986 to 2007. Additionally, new ink and oil paintings from the last decade will also be introduced, offering a comprehensive showcase of the artist’s creative journey over the past forty years.

Manuscripts are the artist’s diary of the soul, capturing his innermost thoughts and contemplations, and his most intimate monologues. Included in the exhibition, are specially produced reproduction copies of his selected manuscripts, and they provide the audience with a unique experience of flipping through the pages. The hope here is that viewers will have a chance to immerse themselves, and connect closely with the artist’s emotional world and state of mind that shaped his creativity.

Exhibition Sections

• Manuscript

I delved into the uncharted spiritual realm by navigating the known material world. 

– Lai Loong Sung (22.4.2024)

Artists are vital observers of their time; they not only create beauty but also embrace the mission of protecting humanity. Daisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International, believed that artists record the pulse of their era through their works, reflecting the joys and sorrows of humanity while revealing both the light and darkness of human nature.

Using social realities as a canvas, and employing themes such as war, technological advancement and environmental issues as his palette, Lai Loong Sung’s manuscripts construct impactful and thought-provoking imageries. He does not merely expose human frailties, but wields his incisive strokes to penetrate through illusions, awakening those who slumber in their dreamlike state. Reading Lai Loong Sung’s manuscripts is like cutting through an apathetic soul with a sharp sword, and it also resembles a guiding beacon, illuminating the depths of the human soul and paving the way forward.

The exhibited manuscripts are divided into eight thematic sections:

1. Reflections of Life – Highlights his documentation of fleeting moments, offering snippets of information  about  the artist’s life.
2. Pursuing Eternal Love in a Transient Life like a Pearl Seeker – Contemplation of emotional entanglement between men and women, and the essence of human nature.
3. A Life Like White Clouds – This section presents the artist’s self-portrait, illustrating a visual journey of introspection and spiritual evolution. 
4. Traces of Dots and Lines – Showcases the artist’s creative concepts, and his exploration on the true nature of art. 
5. The Illusion of all Living Beings – Unveiling the intricacies and nuances of the human nature.
6. Lament in a Corrupted World – Warning to the ecological crisis, calling for the protection of the environment.
7. Scarred Memories of Gunpowder – Contemplations on the true nature of war, revealing the deep longing for peace.
8. All the Algorithms of the Universe Leads to Emptiness – Speculations on the impact of AI technology advancements on human society and art.

• Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Dreams

At the mezzanine hall, a special installation titled Half a Life in Pursuit of Dreams features a monumental wall composed of 27 oil paintings from 1986 to 2007. This collection represents Lai Loong Sung’s artistic journey throughout the first half of his life, illustrating the evolution of his style from youthful exploration to mature mastery.

At the center of the monumental wall hangs the 1994 masterpiece, Untitled. This pivotal work signifies the artist’s departure from figurative aesthetics towards a profound exploration of the intricate relationships between humanity and nature, society, the environment and the spiritual cosmos. Characterised by its intense emotional expression, this work marks Lai Loong Sung’s transition into the mature phase of Romanticism. From this turning point onwards, he established the artistic direction and signature style for his subsequent creations.

• Recent Works

Lai Loong Sung’s latest works, created between 2016 and 2024, continue to reflect his deep concern for humanity around three major areas: war, technological advancement, and environmental issues. These 41 oil and ink paintings reflect his deep contemplation of the pressing challenges of our time. The lingering gunpowder smoke from the unrelenting Russia-Ukraine war is not only present on the battlefield, but also evident on his canvases and rice papers. Lai Loong Sung’s work does not seek to glorify violence, but instead to illustrate the brutality of war, the suffering caused by death, and the distortion of human nature driven by greed. They confront the traumas of war, urging the people to cherish the preciousness of peace.

As the wave of technology sweeps in, and the world is increasingly embracing the convenience that AI offers, Lai Loong Sung’s works raise a critical question: What is the boundary between humans and machines? Is the swift development of technology truly a liberation for humanity, or does it create a chain of alienation? While he does not oppose technological progress, he emphasises the need to protect humanity’s warmth with wisdom amidst this rapid advancement.

The alarm of the environmental crisis has long being sounded, yet the awakening of humanity remains sluggish. Lai Loong Sung painted polluted skies, parched lands, waste-clogged rivers, and weeping mountains  – all in an effort to awaken people’s environmental consciousness. He poses a direct question:

On the precipice of a global crisis, are you among the vast majority, muddled and oblivious like a frog slowly boiled in warm water, or among the rare few who remain awake and sensitive to pain? (26.2.2024)

These 41 works allow viewers a clear perspective to see through the fog of realities and their own circumstances. Through the use of his brush, the artist encourages critical reflection on the consequences of war, urges caution regarding advancing technologies, and emphasises the need to safeguard the environment.

• Interactive Experience

The exhibition’s ground floor features a specially designed interactive installation that encourages the audience to participate in this artistic dialogue, rather than being just an passive observer. After viewing the exhibition, the audience can leave their impressions, reflections, or even questions: in the form of words, drawings, or symbols on paper in the exhibition’s “comment section”.

These expressions will serve as collective echoes of thoughts, intersecting with Lai Loong Sung’s creations and establishing a spiritual exchange that transcends time and space, becoming part of the resonances of “Ethereal Echoes”.

Expectation

This exhibition marks a new partnership between Soka Gakkai Malaysia Harmoni Soka Art and PaPan Haus, merging diverse perspectives and artistic viewpoints in curation. This collaboration aims to enrich the audience’s experience by offering a more immersive and expansive exploration of art.

We are all touched by the content of Lai Loong Sung’s works, and even more by his standalone courage to “remain untainted by the world’s murky reality”. His commitment to portraying social realities, not merely to reveal them, but to inspire awareness among people. His works demonstrate a profound care for humanity, invite us to ponder our world, and cultivate hope for the future. They are not only witnesses of the times, but also mirrors of human nature and a clarion call to awaken dormant souls.

Art, is the resonance of the soul, and the convergence of thought.

I hope this exhibition sparks a meaningful dialogue about art and humanity, inspires each viewer to engage with their own “Ethereal Echoes”, and helps them discover their personal resonance within this tapestry of canvases and papers.

Ethereal Echoes’ Nocturne – In a timeless void where pain is absent, a soul knows no tears. How truly precious it is for a single tear to rise from the soul’s deepest depths. (30.4.2024)

This single tear, comes from Lai Loong Sung, and also flows from you and me. It carries the weight of the most profound and beautiful echo of ”Ethereal Echoes”.