3812 Gallery Hong Kong is delighted to present “Tranquil State: Eric Lai Wai Lam Solo Exhibition”. This solo exhibition is the culmination of three years of preparation, and the artist's works across multiple series, different media, and various scales will be presented — offering viewers a quiet space where they can pause, slow down and breathe.
This exhibition is titled “Tranquil State”, carrying two interconnected core meanings. The first refers to the quiet state and inner order required during Gongbi creation. The second plays on the homophone in Chinese "secret language" – a way of communicating that is hidden, private, gentle and inclusive.
11:11 and 22:22 are two major works inspired by two Cantonese songs: Joey Yung’s Yellow Door (黃色大門) and Denise Ho’s Red Roof (紅屋頂), both with lyrics by Wyman Wong. The lyrics describe the protagonist building an inner castle through whimsical fantasies while feeling lonely and misunderstood by the world. This deeply resonated with Lai. Thus, Lai re-woven the symbols from the lyrics (such as fawns, rockets, descending angels) with fragments of memories from his personal experiences. This is deeply emotional, but they does not want it to be seen at a glance, forming a code and transforming the pieces into "songs that can be seen."
Furthermore, in this batch of new works, compared to Lai’s earlier works, he has introduced more decorative geometric elements — the floor tiles in 22:22, the patterned fabric and the windows afar in The Temporary Guest l. This shift responds to the Gongbi technique’s demand for finesse and refined beauty; on the other hand, these decorative elements are no longer simple backdrops. They form life scenes rich in narrative depth, carrying emotions and suspending time, creating a space for both the artist and the viewer to dwell and transition—a place between inner and outer worlds where the spirit can find refuge.
In 2023, 3812 Gallery established the “YA! Young Art” platform, we continued to work closely, from the group show “Seeking Connections” to Art Central 2026, and now to his first solo exhibition “Tranquil State.” Over the years, his portrayal of sparrows has undergone transformation, evolving from birds objectively observed, to “protagonists” within the paintings, and further becoming “middlemen” and “surrogates” bearing human qualities. This is not merely a role substitution, but a journey from being an onlooker to facing oneself. The sparrow can become the protagonist only because Lai is willing to confront himself through it; it is not assigned a role to perform, but instead enters the frame on his behalf—to feel, to live, and to settle emotions that are beyond words.
“Over the span of three years, stroke by stroke, he has rebuilt the remnants of the past—rural memories, urban clamour, inner struggles—into a place imbued with warmth and reminiscence.” —— This is the evaluation of the exhibited works by Agnes Wu,curator of this exhibition and director of 3812 Gallery.
