Cheng Chit Yan Where Shadow Pauses, 2024 Oil on canvas 90 x 80 cm
The Hartz Project is pleased to present Unspoken Truths, a duo exhibition showcasing works of Hong Kong artists Jake Wong and Cheng Chit Yan, at Gaia Art Space in Hong Kong.
This exhibition will be on view from July 17 to August 30, 2025.
Cheng Chit Yan, Midnight Root in Summer, 2025, Oil on canvas, 90 x 70 cm
Jake Wong, Liminal, 2025, Oil on canvas, 80 x 65 cm
Unspoken Truths encapsulates an exploration of the complexities of perception, subtly unveiling a tapestry of human experience that reveals the often-hidden layers between external appearances and internal realities.
It navigates the intricate landscape of human emotion, unearthing the truths that often go unsaid.
Wong takes a personal approach in his body of work, painting from his deep emotions to articulate these inner feelings with rational clarity, all while striving to find a harmonious equilibrium between the two.
He emphasizes the intricacies and nuances of the painting surface, employing various techniques alongside minimalist compositions and palettes to abstractly expose the spectrum of human emotional states.
THE HARTZ PROJECT
Cheng’s practice investigates the subtle yet profound tensions that exist between inner feelings and the external world. Beneath the tranquil surfaces of her works lies an undercurrent of chaos, expressed through distorted lines and vibrant, unconventional color palettes that create mysterious, layered atmospheres.
Everyday landscapes, fleeting moments of travel, and the intricate fusion of emotions and fantasies—these transient captures are transformed into enduring visual narratives where Cheng incorporates disorienting proportions and bold, evocative hues to construct imagery that feels both familiar and estranged.
A compelling dialogue unfolds between Wong's rational explorations and Cheng's emotional turbulence, probing the complexities of human experience and the hidden narratives that define our lives.
Wong's meticulous surfaces invite contemplation of unexpressed emotions, whereas Cheng's layered atmospheres provoke introspection about the chaotic truths that lie beneath.
Through the lens of these two artists, the works encourage a gentle introspection that beckons one to explore the depths of their inner world.
This serves as an invitation to recognize the undercurrents of emotions that shape our existence, fostering a quiet awakening within and guiding us to gently uncover the subtle truths that resonate within our shared human narrative.
About The Hartz Project
Founded in Hong Kong, The Hartz Project is dedicated to showcasing and empowering emerging artists in Asia and beyond.
In the meantime, it aims to be collectors’ intimate friend for building meaningful art collections that enrich life and soul, where art evokes joy, inspiration and a sense of well-being.
The Hartz Project also explores spiritual realm, positioning art as a powerful medium for elevating human consciousness.
THE HARTZ PROJECT
SELECTED WORKS
This painting depicts a figure sitting by the shore, gazing at the shimmering water.
The scene appears still, yet it harbors a tangle of emotions, exuding a profound sense of loneliness.
Beside the figure, a small plant quietly accompanies them, inspired by a pot of plants in the artist's studio, alleviating the weight of solitude.
The use of dark tones and rich burgundy creates a depth that is both profound and inviting.
It guides the viewer to notice the tranquility of the water, the companionship of the plant, and the emotional tension of the burgundy color.
Cheng Chit Yan
Where Shadow Pauses, 2024
Oil on canvas 90 x 80 cm
Courtesy of the artist and The Hartz Project
Jake Wong approaches the topic from a subjective yet scientific perspective, utilizing the concept of “entropy”—a term from physics that describes the irreversible increase of systemic chaos.
This concept metaphorically illustrates the dynamics of human relationships, highlighting their tensions, transformations, and inevitable endings.
As entropyreaches its limit, the phenomenon known as “heat death” occurs.
This raises profound questions about the nature of relationships: if turmoil and disorder are inherent to any connection, what does that imply about their meaning and significance?
Jake Wong
1-VII-25, 2025
Oil on canvas
80 x 60 cm
Courtesy of the artist and The Hartz Project
In a half-dreaming, half-awake state, many unreasonable things are often rationalized, and it is only when one is fully awake that the absurdity becomes clear.
The reason for expressing this through a lake's surface is that whenever consciousness is discussed, people tend to use the iceberg metaphor; the surface of the lake
represents consciousness, while beneath it lies the subconscious. For the artist, the half-dreaming, half- awake state is a product formed by the continuous switching and blending of the two. In this work, the reflection on the lake's surface cannot reflect the objects on the lake, yet everything is placed so harmoniously. Paradoxically, that sense of unreality feels the most real to the artist at that moment.
Jake Wong
Liminal, 2025
Oil on canvas
80 x 65 cm
Courtesy of the artist and The Hartz Project
