Visiting his sick mother, the crispy shaobing on the train there, and her watch steadily drumming in his ears—these were the fragments Ma Yujiang could recall. The Chinese artist seemingly freezes time at an exhibition at Causeway Bay, holding onto his love for his mother.

Artist Yujiang presents the exhibition, “Every Love Lasts”, at the Chubb Life Art Gallery from February 19 to August 15. Originally from Shandong, the artist now resides in Hong Kong. The exhibition features his lifelong series, “Mother and Child”, where Yujiang draws paintings of himself and his mother. He exhibits eight of them at the exhibition, only then he ages progressively from one to 37 while his mother remains 27.

“Love is a topic drawn up by the curatorial team,” Yujiang says. “My mother died when I was very young, and I only have one picture with her.”

One of the paintings hung on the walls of Chubb Tower.

The exhibition theme of love curated by Chubb.

The Buddhist theory of returning to the very beginning is something Yujiang can relate to. Although he has no faith, he often reads religious books because, in a way, art brings him spiritual realisation. “My mother may not exist anymore, but for me, because I draw her every day, it feels like she's in my head. As if her body has ceased to exist, but she lives on in my heart,” he explains.

Painting can be demanding. A lot about drawing is about technique and anatomy. With only an old picture, it is difficult to sketch his mother. “How do I accurately draw the turning of the cheekbones, the turning of the nose, and the turning of the forehead? I may suddenly recall a memory,” he says.

Artist Ma Yujiang paints on a Saturday afternoon.

His largest work yet. 

The series started from 2009 and only exhibited in 2022. The portraits with his mother are referenced with photos he took throughout the years. The photos captured special travels or life milestones, and oil paint has been a self-expressive medium for Yujiang. He turns 37 this year and completes the eighth piece at the gallery, which is his largest yet at 1.8m x 1.2m.

However, Yujiang hopes the audience will look into the relationship between his paintings. The universal message behind is personal but also something that everyone empathises with. “Public art often addresses public issues, such as ecological concerns and women's rights,” he says, “I found that it was not these abstract discussions that touched my heart more, but some of my own specific stories.”

Everyone goes through the passage of time. To Yujiang, death is a form of life, and he will continue this series until his death. “When the two people in a painting are no longer here, then the work is complete,” he says. “My death is not only the end of my life but also the completion of this work.”

Cover photo: Chubb Life Art Gallery

Photo credits: Orange News

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