Bo Hong art at Environmental Nature Center
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) in Newport Beach will be the place for Orange County’s first — albeit brief — exhibition of landscape paintings by the Chinese artist Bo Hong.
He is considered one of the top and most sought-after artists in China, show organizers said.
“I can look at it and come back an hour later and see something different,” said Lloyd Ikerd, a Corona del Mar resident who is one of the show’s two presenters. “It’s just amazing art.”
The show, titled “A Pure View,” will stay up at the ENC, 1601 16th St., through the weekend. A VIP reception for the exhibit will take place on Friday night, but from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the public can see the show for free.
Ikerd, a businessman, discovered Hong’s work through his dealings with Mary Wong, who owns a Monterey Park tax business. She has many clients from mainland China and has known the painter for a few years.
Ikerd and Wong previously collaborated on presenting exhibits of Hong’s paintings at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and at the Huntington Library in San Marino, Ikerd said.
They picked the ENC as the venue because the setting goes well with the landscape and environmentalist features of the painter’s art. For his paintings, Hong follows the old tradition of Chinese landscape artists by grinding and mixing his own paints.
“We felt it kind of ties in nicely with the Nature Center,” Ikerd said.
Hong’s paintings will be available for sale, and collectors can also bid on two paintings that he has donated for an auction. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the ENC.
“It’s a very welcome contribution,” said Bo Glover, executive director of the ENC, which is marking its 40th anniversary. “For us, it will certainly go a long way in supporting the educational programs that we present to the community.”
Twitter: @ImranVittachi