Man Sang Michael Cheung’s enthusiasm for exploring art is a defining feature of his work as an artist and educator. His early passion and rudimentary painting skills were initially inspired and nurtured by the well-known traditional Chinese painter Li Man Feng. In 1960, Michael decided to pursue his dream at the National Beijing Art College, where his professional techniques and creative insights were further developed under teachers Ye Qian Yu, Jiang Zhao He, Li Ke Ran and Bai Xue Shi.
After graduation in 1963, his vision and outstanding execution in traditional painting were recognized by Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and he joined the faculty to inspire new generations of artists and creators. After marrying artist Nam Kei Yeung, the pair moved to Hong Kong in 1981. His approach to art became more diverse and the variety of themes were reflected in a series of exhibitions in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, China and Indonesia. In addition, his creativity in visual storytelling caught the attention of Hong Kong Wan Li Book Corporation, where he became the company’s art director, spearheading book cover design. As shift in focus meant Michael’s subject matter no longer involved the classic canon of painting — natural scenery, horses, figure drawing, calligraphy or portraits. Instead, there were more myth, allegory, irony and humor to reflect the philosophy of life.
In 1994, Michael and his family immigrated to the United States. This significant change provided a new perspective for him to re-evaluate the traditional skill set of painting. It challenged him to approach visual expression using new media, such as acrylics on canvas. To him, art is self-discovery in both personal and spiritual aspects. It became a turning point for painting the similar subject matters in a new way. The quality of a painting relies on the story embedded in every stroke, line or dab. It is the accumulation of time and the evolution of experiments that lead to the greater emotional value in painting.
