Epiphytes on Paper by Chang Fee Ming
21 Nov - 19 Dec 2026
Epiphytes on Paper
To artists like Chang Fee Ming, paper is a resource that must always be available, because at any moment, he may feel the need to draw, sketch or paint. But unknown to many, this important resource doesn’t have to be a blank piece of paper. In fact, he takes great pleasure in using “already purposed” materials: corporate stationery such as envelopes, letterheads and notebooks; pages from various publications, including books and magazines; as well as brochures and pamphlets. This is because when working on a fresh sheet, he must start from scratch. But with the latter, he can draw inspiration from what is already printed on the paper: information on the company, the content of the book, brochure, pamphlet, etc., to artistically “extend” their purpose.
He thinks of this as an epiphytic form of art. Like a plant growing on the branch of a tree without harming its host, his drawings find a home on paper that already carries words, images and history. As the drawing becomes part of the paper’s story, they develop a symbiotic relationship that seals their fates together: the paper holds the artwork, while the artwork gives the paper a renewed purpose and a reason to be preserved.
Through this special project with G13 Gallery, selected collectors are invited to participate in Chang Fee Ming’s longstanding exploration of repurposed paper by providing company stationery or personal paper keepsakes. Each piece carries its own history, while Chang retains the creative freedom to respond to it in his own way.