CURATOR: SABRINA M. Y. FUNG
MIRAGE, an oasis of illusions at the heart of the ART HK 08, explores the boundaries of the imagination within a confined space. This exhibition of contemporary Hong Kong artists is a journey into an unreal visual playground of concepts and forms that are not what they appear at first glance. The elusive optical perceptions of the exhibited works are further exaggerated by the site-specific, landscape structure specially created by Meta4. The landscape contoured structure, which hosts the exhibited artworks, resembles an "organic" island, complete with trees, lotus flowers, and other seemingly natural forms.
Each participating artist in MIRAGE presents a unique vision with its own inherent illusions, revealing varying degrees of isolation within urban contemporary life. Esther Lai's fascination with a self-contained universe of beings is evident in her fantastical Happy Tree, which is comprised of over 4,000 handmade objects. The reflective passage of Lotus by Catherine Lee presents a special moment of peace and tranquility. The organic landscape cells spread through the site-specific Cellular Spaces by Caroline Mak reinvent natural formations that are at once both familiar and alien, strong yet fragile. Wong Chung Yu explores the relationship between love, desire and money in his imaginative, computerized depiction of Sodom, the ancient biblical city. Homan Ho's interest in kinetic architectural work takes form in his large, ramp-like structure with moving objects (shoes) above the exhibition space. Contemporary life, real and virtual, is a prevailing theme for this new generation of Hong Kong artists exhibited in MIRAGE, providing a glimpse into our disorientating world as the artists see it.
Artists to feature include: Homan M.C. Ho, Catherine Y. M. Lee, Caroline Mak, Meta4 Design Forum Ltd., Wong Chung Yu and Esther L.M. Yip.
About Sabrina Fung:
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| Sabrina Fung has actively participated in cross-cultural, multi-media activities since 1980. She and her company, sabrina fung fine arts, consult and place artworks for major public and commercial environments in Asia, Europe and North America. Ms. Fung has also curated and organized a wide variety ofculturalevents to promote public art, including in 2005, she wasinvited by theHong Kong Arts Development to curate the Hong KongPavilion for the51st Venice Biennale in Italy. | | | |
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| Asia Art Archive is pleased to present 'Hong Kong Conversations', a series of talks by a group of renowned collectors, artists and art experts within the Fair from 15-18 May. To book a place, please email HKconversations@aaa.org.hk
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Thursday 15th May 4-5 Hong Kong - Beijing Return: A conversation between artists Chow Chun-fai and Lam Tung-pang
Representing a new generation of HK artists, Chow Chun-fai and Lam Tung-pang were amongst the first to establish studios in Fotan in HK which now hosts over 70 artists in 20 studios. In 2007, they set up their second studio, in Beijing, joining a wave of Chinese and international artists settling in the culture capital. They work and base themselves in bothcities.
Chow Chun-fai graduated in Fine Arts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and currently teaches at the Hong Kong ArtSchool. His work, which reinterprets classics and questions identity, has been collected by private and public collections, and exhibited inEurope and Asia.
Exploring the relationship between objects and materials in his work, Lam Tung-pang has been awarded numerousscholarships and awards. He received a BA in fine art from The ChineseUniversity of Hong Kong and an MA at Central St Martins College of Artand Design, London.
For “Hong Kong Conversations”, Chow Chun-fai and Lam Tung-pang will discuss the development of their artistic practice from Fotan to Beijing. Where HK artists tend to take a more passive approach, Chow and Lam’s move to Beijing may be considered aggressive by their counterparts. Why have they decided to set up a studio in Beijing as well as Hong Kong? What are their views on HK’s position and situation for artists? And what challenges do they face as Hong Kong artists in Beijing, where they are considered foreigners in their own country?
Thursday 15th May 6-7pm Informed Taste: A conversation between collector Monique Burger and curator Tobias Berger Drivenby passion and assisted by a few trusted galleries, the Swiss collector, Monique Burger, has put together an impressive collection ofmore than 900 works of contemporary art since the 1990s. Since movingto Hong Kong in 2005, the Burger Collection now includes works by over20 Asian artists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
Tobias Berger, Director of Hong Kong’s independent artspace Para/Site also arrived in Hong Kong in 2005, after having lived and worked in Germany, Holland, Lithuania and New Zealand. Since taking over the reigns of Para/Site, Berger has organized a number ofpioneering shows in HK to include younger local and international artists, as well as more established artists like Lawrence Weiner and Dennis Oppenheim.
For “Hong Kong Conversations,” Monique Burgerand Tobias Berger will discuss the challenges of successfully selectingartists, artworks and concepts in an art environment that is stilldeveloping and defining its very own rules, while growing at an unprecedented speed. In an environment with so few independent institutions, how does one go about developing both an appreciative andcritical relationship to contemporary art production? And what are the sensitivities involved in collecting and curating in a place that is not your country of origin?
Friday 16th May 6-7pm
Cultural Investment: A conversation between Henry Tang, The Hon. Mr Ronald Acrulli and Sir David Tang
Mr Henry Tang was appointed to the position of the Chief Secretary forAdministration of the HKSAR Government in July 2007. Prior to thisappointment, he was the Financial Secretary and formerly the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology. Before joining the Government in 2002, Mr Tang was a leading industrialist in Hong Kong, and has apersonal interest in the arts.
The Hon. Mr. Ronald Arculli is a member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government and Chairman of the HK Stock Exchange. He is the seniorpartner of Arculli Fong & Ng, which has a strategic alliance withthe largest law firm in Mainland China. On top of his numerous businessand community commitments, Arculli is an ardent supporter of the arts.As well as personally collecting art for over 40 years, he is one ofthe founders of the Asia Art Archive and recently chaired the Finance Group for the West Kowloon Cultural District Advisory Committee
Founderand Chairman of The China Club and founder of the Shanghai Tang, Sir David Tang is a leading figure in the business community. Sir David has a long history of community service and serves on the board of a numberof charities worldwide. Entrepreneur, designer and philosopher, David Tang is a passionate collector of contemporary Chinese art. He has beena trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts for over 10 years, a Boardmember of the Asia Art Archive since 2002 and recently became Chairmanof the Asia-Pacific Acquisition Committee of the Tate Modern.
For“Hong Kong Conversations,” Tang, Arculli and Sir David will discuss whythey personally enjoy and think art is important in their lives. Theywill also share their views on some of the projects currently takingshape to develop art in Hong Kong like the West Kowloon CulturalDistrict Project and the Central Police Station. Despite Hong Kongbeing one of the most developed cities in Asia, Hong Kong is oftenreferred to as a cultural desert. Is this really the case? Hong Konghas some of the richest individuals per capita yet why is there solittle private support or collectors for contemporary art? So what canbe done to change this? Sunday 18th May 3-4pm
Space Exploration: A conversation between Elaine Ng and Zhang Wei
Editorand Publisher of Art AsiaPacific (AAP) magazine, Elaine W. Ng lived in Hong Kong in the 1990s during which she managed Videotage, one of Asia's first non-profit centres for film, video and new media. She hasparticipated in projects around the world, as a curator, jury memberand book editor. From her base in NY, Ng is frequently on the roadmeeting speaking with organizations and individuals in the region forher work at AAP.
Zhang Wei is a founding member and director ofVitamin Creative Space in Guangzhou, which has since its establishment in 2002, come to be considered as one of the most important platforms for contemporary art in China. Having graduated with a MA in CreativeCurating at Goldsmiths University in London, and invited to curate exhibitions for a number of international events from museum shows toart fairs, Zhang Wei is particularly interested in the exploration of an alternative space for contemporary art in the context of mainland China.
For “Hong Kong Conversations”, Elaine Ng and Zhang Wei will discuss and consider the different platforms that currently existfor exhibiting contemporary art in China with a particular focus on the Pearl River Delta. What does it mean to be independent? Is there such athing as a non-profit? Are conditions in China opening up “unconventional” ways for the independent exhibition of contemporary art? Are conditions in the Pearl River Delta with cities like Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, creating a very different environment to say, the capital, Beijing?
Talk: Buying Art for the First Time by Angela Li (Art Consultant and Gallerist)
Thursday 15 May 2:30pm In Cantonese
Friday 16 May 2:30pm In English
Saturday 17 May 2:30pm In Cantonese
Sunday 18 May 12:30pm In English
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| A series of guided tours of the Fair will take place, free of charge, throughout the public opening days of the Fair : 15 – 18 May.
To book your place on a guided tour please email barbara@hongkongartfair.com or visit the Info Point at the Fair. |
If you would like to arrange bespoke tours for corporate or other groups, please call: +852 2918 8793 or email info@hongkongartfair.com
Satellite Event: Conference 17 May
Shifting Sites: Cultural Desire and the Museum Saturday 17 May 2008, 10am - 5.30pm, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Presented by Asia Art Archive and Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Supported by - Home Affairs Bureau, Government of HKSAR and in association with ART HK 08. Major resources are being allocated by governments to building cultural facilities – think Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District. Today, art and cultural facilities are seen as necessary components of a world-class city; a desire reiterated throughout cities in Asia. Can the one-stop cultural district really emulate the vibrancy of art scenes in cities like London and NY? And the idea of a museum – this is a recent construct in Asia – so what should today |
