Form Without Form: Joseph Tham’s Journey in Ink (Shanghai) -- A Contemporary Dialogue between Ink, Form and the Invisible
Updated: Aug 28
Date: 13 June to 5 July 2026
Venue: W103, HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai
From 13 June to 5 July 2026, Triune Harmony, NONAME STUDIO and 768 Gallery jointly presented Form Without Form: Joseph Tham’s Journey in Ink (Shanghai) at HKRI Taikoo Hui, with HKRI Taikoo Hui as co-organiser. Inspired by the phrase “the grandest image has no form” from Chapter 41 of the Dao De Jing, the exhibition brought together ink painting, calligraphy, poetry and seal engraving to trace Professor Joseph Tham’s life and artistic journey across Hong Kong, Canada, Africa and Rome.
Professor Tham trained as a medical doctor and has worked extensively in theology and bioethics. His art
connects traditional Chinese practice with contemporary spiritual experience, exploring perception, memory, transformation, faith and the invisible forces that shape human life. The exhibition presented 56 works. One of its principal highlights was Celestial Fountain (Iguazu Falls), a monumental ink painting measuring approximately 3.5 metres high and 1.5 metres wide.
The exhibition also featured works by Dongli Ma, Gosia Wojas, Karma Barnes, Kuo-Hsiang Kuo, Mario Valdés, Vittorio Mandelli and Steve Lecru. Through sculpture, installation, technology and mixed media, the seven contemporary artists entered into a cross-cultural and cross-media dialogue with Professor Tham’s Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal works. The curatorial team comprised Carlo Maria Rossi, Tiffany GT and Vivien Lee.
Over its 23-day run, the exhibition welcomed more than 1,000 visitors. Guided tours, talks, an artists’ roundtable, and calligraphy and seal-design workshops organised by Triune Harmony recorded 234 participant engagements. During the closing days, Triune Harmony collaborated with Shihe Culture to present four cultural gatherings: Tea, Ink and Intangible Cultural Heritage, Mindful Herbal Infusions, Poetry and Wine Gathering and Wenkui Embroidery. These activities recorded approximately 34 additional engagements and encouraged visitors to move from viewing art towards practical experience, cultural exchange and personal reflection.
A total of 27 registered volunteers supported the exhibition. They assisted with reception, guided interpretation, gallery supervision and programme delivery. Many also introduced the exhibition to their relatives and friends and shared Professor Tham’s artistic and cultural vision with visitors. The exhibition received coverage from more than 20 media platforms in Mainland China, generating 75,088 published reads and extending the visibility of Triune Harmony and Professor Tham’s artistic work beyond the exhibition venue.
The Shanghai presentation marked an important milestone in Triune Harmony’s development in Mainland China. Within an accessible urban cultural venue, the exhibition created a meeting place for traditional Chinese art, contemporary artistic practice, cultural memory and spiritual reflection. The experience also established a valuable foundation for Triune Harmony’s future exhibitions, public education programmes and institutional partnerships.
Acknowledgements
The exhibition was made possible through the generous support of its Gold Patrons, Ms Agnes Mak, Professor Denis Chang and Wofoo Foundation.
Triune Harmony also offers its sincere gratitude to all patrons, Friends of Triune Harmony, partners, participating artists, volunteers and visitors. Their support enabled Form Without Form to become a public space for art, culture, reflection and human encounter in Shanghai.
Triune Harmony extends special thanks to Wofoo Foundation for supporting the Shanghai exhibition as a Gold Patron. Wofoo Foundation is also Triune Harmony’s 2025–27 Season Patron, providing continuing support for the organisation’s work in Chinese art, cultural exchange, public education and institutional development.
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《大象無形：譚傑志寰宇墨跡藝術展（上海）》
Form Without Form: Joseph Tham’s Journey in Ink (Shanghai)一場水墨與有形和無形的當代對話
日期：2026年6月13日至7月5日 地點：上海興業太古匯 W103
2026年6月13日至7月5日，天地人和、NONAME STUDIO及768 Gallery於上海興業太古匯共同呈獻《大象無形：譚傑志寰宇墨跡藝術展（上海）》，並由興業太古匯聯合主辦。展覽以《道德經》第四十一章「大象無形」為思想起點，透過水墨、書法、詩詞及金石篆刻，呈現譚傑志教授橫跨香港、加拿大、非洲與羅馬的生命及藝術旅程。
譚教授曾接受醫學訓練，長年從事神學及生物倫理研究。他的作品將中國傳統藝術與當代人的精神經驗連結起來，探討感知、記憶、轉化、信仰，以及形塑生命的無形力量。展覽共展出56件作品，其中高約3.5米、寬1.5米的《天瀑悟洗》（伊瓜蘇瀑布）成為展場的重要焦點。
展覽亦邀請Dongli Ma、Gosia Wojas、Karma Barnes、Kuo-Hsiang Kuo、Mario Valdés、Vittorio Mandelli及Steve Lecru參展。七位當代藝術家透過雕塑、裝置、科技及混合媒介，與譚教授的中國書畫及金石作品展開跨文化、跨媒介的對話。策展團隊由Carlo Maria Rossi、Tiffany GT及Vivien Lee組成。
為期23天的展覽吸引逾1,000名訪客。天地人和舉辦的導賞、講座、藝術家圓桌、書法及印章設計工作坊共錄得234參與人次。閉展前夕，天地人和與十合社文化合作舉辦茶賞非遺、靜心花草飲、詩酒會及文奎刺繡四場文化活動，另錄得約34參與人次。這些活動讓觀眾從觀看作品延伸至實際體驗、文化交流及個人反思。
展覽期間共有27名登記義工投入服務。他們協助接待、導賞、展區巡查及活動運作，並主動向家人、朋友及參觀者分享譚教授的藝術與文化理念。展覽亦獲20多個中國內地媒體平台報道，已公布的閱讀量達75,088次，進一步擴大天地人和及譚教授藝術創作在中國內地的能見度。
上海《大象無形》是天地人和在中國內地發展的重要里程碑。展覽在一個開放的城市文化空間中，讓中國傳統藝術、當代創作、文化記憶與靈性反思彼此連結，也為天地人和日後推動展覽、公共教育及跨機構合作建立了寶貴基礎。
鳴謝
本展覽承蒙黃金贊助人麥鄧碧儀女士、張健利教授及和富慈善基金慷慨支持。
天地人和亦衷心感謝所有贊助人、天地人和之友、合作夥伴、藝術家、義工及參加者。你們的支持讓《大象無形》在上海成為一個連結藝術、文化、反思與人際交流的公共空間。
天地人和特別感謝和富慈善基金以黃金贊助人身分支持上海展覽。此外，和富慈善基金亦為天地人和2025–27年度贊助機構，持續支持本會推動中國藝術、文化交流、公共教育及機構發展。
