Category: Art

Artspace K: Celebrating and spotlighting contemporary artists in style

Newly opened Artspace K, celebrates and spotlights contemporary artists in style…

After much anticipation and with high spirits, The Repulse Bay welcomed a brand-new art gallery, Artspace K, last month. The grand opening, which was presided over by its founder, Chen Kok-choo, also doubled as the exciting launch of the contemporary art space’s first exhibition. Titled “Winter Joy”, this exhibition marks the first-ever solo showcase in Hong Kong by renowned Taiwanese artist, Hung Yi.

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Chen is no stranger to the art and culture sphere. An international corporate lawyer by profession, upon her retirement in 2002, the intrepid cultural connoisseur and Hong Kong native chose to answer a second calling, this time as a promoter of art and culture works.

“I define culture as something that our ancestors have passed down to us, be it through intangible traditions or their very real literary, artistic and musical legacies,” explains Chen, “and it’s through this that we can understand our past.”

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With this philosophy driving her, Chen would eventually revitalise and restore three heritage buildings in Taipei – Taipei Story House, Futai Street Foreign Mansion and museum207 – transforming them into modern-day museums that could educate people about their own history. With this undeniable success under her belt, she then turned her attention towards her hometown of Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is a leading international art hub, with services and an infrastructure that few other cities can rival,” says Chen, “so I focused on setting up a platform for contemporary artists from all over the world, one that would position them to best take advantage of the city’s strengths.”

Artspace K Celebrating and spotlighting contemporary artists in style gafencu magazine

A year later, that vision has come to fruition in Artspace K, a gallery that Chen hopes will “instil a love of art within the local community.” Designed as a mini museum, she hopes to utilise this venue to introduce a range of local and international artists to the city through thoughtfully curated, ever-changing exhibitions.

“We hope to present about eight to ten established or emerging artists across a range of mediums and themes at Artspace K each year over four exhibitions,” Chen says, “and we don’t just introduce the artworks but also the artists, to educate on what makes each one so unique.”

Artspace K Celebrating and spotlighting contemporary artists in style

It is precisely this thought that drove the selection of Taiwanese artist Hung Yi as its inaugural exhibition artist. “Hung Yi is one of Taiwan’s most famous prolific contemporary sculptors. He’s had 87 exhibitions across the world, including many leading international art hotspots, yet he has never held a solo exhibition in Hong Kong and many locals probably haven’t heard of him. That’s why I want to introduce Hongkongers to his fantastic works.”

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Thus, Artspace K’s “Winter Joy” exhibition, which runs until February 21, 2021, is an exposé on Hung Yi’s artistic vision and craftsmanship, with 13 steelwork sculptures and two acrylic paintings from his “Animals” series now on proud display. Vibrant and colourful, each piece has been burnished with traditional symbols, floral motifs and contemporary ideograms. Above all – and perhaps at a time where Hong Kong needs it most – “Winter Joy” evokes a child-like joy of colourful expression devoid of all negativity.

 

Artspace K.G105-106, The RepulseBay, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Hong Kong

Info: Artspace K

From passion to action: Hobbies to bring out your creativity

Our hobbies are the most aspirational reflections of who we are, and in trying times, spending time on the things we love will serve a multitude of health benefits for our mental and emotional well-being. Whether just to fill the weekend or pivot to a dream career, you can try your hand in creative interests like these hobbies that can turn your passion into action.

From passion to action Unique craft hobbies to try gafencu magazine ring making and gem setting (2)
Image from Oberllery

Jewellery Making

Enter the dazzling world of jewelry with a hands-on experience of traditional craftsmanship of jewellery making. Explore the use of tools and the understanding of techniques, skills, and the theory of gemology through this hobby that will give gem enthusiasts a deeper appreciation and respect for the making of fine jewelry. 

Where to go: 

Oberllery

Hatton Jewellery Institute

L’école

From passion to action Unique craft hobbies to try gafencu magazine leather shoe making
Image from shoe artistry

Leather Shoe Making

Fashion-forward men and women know that leather shoes are a premium type of footwear that is known for its light-weight, durable and supple material. Bespoke leather shoes are forms that bring pride to both the artisan and the wearer. Go beyond appreciation with this hobby by learning to manage traditional tools and techniques that make leather shoemaking a globally respected trade.  

Where to go:

itseducation.asia

Shoe artistry

From passion to action Unique craft hobbies to try gafencu magazine flower arrangement
Image from Solomon Bloemen

Flower Arrangement

Not just for the adornment of the home and workspace, flower arrangement, as a hobby, offers several benefits such as manual dexterity, sensory stimulation and an outlet for reducing stress. It’s no wonder this art form has been growing in popularity within the city. 

Where to go:

The Hong Kong Academy of Flower Arrangement

Kado Studio

Solomon Bloemen

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Image from Bonart

Build ATerrarium

Discover the calming experience of miniature gardening. With just a couple of hours of careful tray planting and focused arrangement, similar to exercising green thumbs with flower arrangement, this hobby could help the extremely stressed city folk with concentration and finding calm in their busy lives.    

Where to go:

Bonart

Glass Farm

From passion to action Unique craft hobbies to try gafencu magazine pottery and ceramics
Image from Touch Ceramics

Pottery Making and Ceramics Painting

Another craft hobby that has gained in popularity in the city is pottery making and ceramic painting. With a booming art scene in the city as it grows its global reputation as an art hub, pottery and cermic arts are not praised for its aesthetics but the process equips students with practical techniques and is also commonly used as a theraputic outlet for creative expression and a unique experience of culture and history.

Touch Ceramics

Waka Artisans

Tung Yao Ceramics

 

Zen Living: Design a peaceful home with Japanese philosophy

Japanese design more often than not makes references to ancient traditions, culture, and history that carry philosophical ideas that render a peaceful and meditative state not only applicable to art but also to one’s way of living. This might explain why modern and contemporary Japanese designs have grown in popularity all over the world, especially in the homes of Hong Kong people, providing a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Wabi-Sabi, Kintsugi and Ma are Japanese philosophies often incorporated in home designs to promote a more calm and joyful living space.  

Wabi-sabi  (侘寂) 

Wabi-Sabi is a philosophy that embraces the beauty of the impairment, imperfect, and melancholic absence in nature. The aesthetics of wabi-sabi designs are captured with asymmetrical silhouettes, minimalism, and natural elements that portray imperfections, emptiness, and transience that come with time and age – just like a mid-level residence designed by NC Design & Architecture Ltd founder, Nelson Chow.  The design employs natural materials such as wood, marble, as well as oxidised bronze, and textured plaster which offer occupants a sense of relaxation and calm.

How to incorporate wabi-sabi at home: Keep it simple and let the reigns loose for perfectly-shaped and symmetrical geometry. Incorporate more natural and rustic elements, such as plants and wood into the furnishings and decor.

Kintsugi (金継ぎ)

Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that roughly translates into “joined by gold”. It involves putting broken pottery back together with powdered gold mixed in lacquer. The purpose of repair is not to make the object good as new, but to enhance its beauty by highlighting the breakage as part of its history – discarding perfection as a definition of worth. The art form brings a narrative of embracing flaws and imperfection into the design of the home, offering a sense of security and serenity and promoting efforts to reduce wastes. 

How to incorporate kintsugi at home: Despite the attention, the art form has enjoyed for centuries, authentic Kintsugi works are not commonly for sale in stores. However, the art form is easily done at home and personalized by purchasing a kintsugi repair kit. Alternatively, Kintsugi workshops provided by art galleries, Touch Ceramics and Waka Artisans are also available for those who are keen on learning more about the art form and creating their own Kintsugi homewares. 

Ma (間)

Ma is a term that represents a Japanese idea that most Western designers refer to as “negative space,” and which translates unto space, distance, or gap. It is the artistic interpretation of empty space. The void promotes the mental process of imagination and creativity in visualising the numerous possibilities that can exist in an empty space, gap, or distance from one object to another. A case in point is the Happy Valley residence named Urban Cacoon by designers Lorène Faure & Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui of Bean Buro. The use of neutral tones fits into a minimalistic design in which natural light and other elements can shine, including two mirrors facing each other from one end of the residence to the other, creating a conversation in the space and distance between the two objects.

How to incorporate kintsugi at home: Use monochromatic palates or neutral tones, like light wood and bamboo, to highlight other elements in the home such as paintings, flowers, and cool-toned decor and furnishings. Embrace space and distance between objects to create a story.

The most expensive art works by Chinese artists sold

From classical fine art pieces to modern and contemporary masterpieces, Chinese artists are leading the charge at major auctions this fall.

Hong Kong enjoys the stature as a leading international art market in Asia and across the world, alongside New York and London. The city boasts of a diversity of art spaces, prestigious auction houses and exhibitions, including the internationally-acclaimed Art Basel, which opens a very wide window for international attention to be trained on Chinese artworks, a distinct phenomenon in recent years.

The most expensive art works by Chinese artists sold this October gafencu magazine Liu Ye florence
Florence by Liu Ye

Rise of contemporary Chinese art

Although Chinese art enjoys a long history and innovative techniques that date back to the stone age, it only started gaining international attention at the end of the 20th century. Contemporary Chinese art, as well as antique Chinese art, is now a fast-growing category that enjoys growing global attention and interest.

The most expensive art works by Chinese artists sold this October gafencu magazine zhang xiaogang amnesia and memory no 1
Amnesia and Memory no. 1 by Zhang Xiaogang

A case in point is the sale of  Amnesia and Memory No. 1  by contemporary artist Zhang Xiaogang whose works often explored identity in China. The eight-feet-tall oil on canvas was part of The First Avant-garde: Masterworks from the Johnson Chang Collection and was sold at at Sotheby’s contemporary Art Day Sale on 7 October for HK$6 million — significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HK$4.2 million. As an artist who witnessed an era of the Cultural Revolution across the stronghold of the Communist party, and often exploring his identity in China, Zhang’s art piece represented expression of individual memory and its place within a collective identity.

The most expensive art works by Chinese artists sold this October gafencu magazine chinese calligraphy Pu Ru
Chinese calligraphy by Puru

Value of Traditional Chinese art

Like its European counterpart, Chinese art is valued for the purpose, material and theme of the piece, as well as, the artist’s social stance. Traditional Chinese literary arts have been created by scholars and literary elites who also practised  calligraphy. To qualify as a scholar painter, one had to pass a strict examination set by the emperor. This makes traditional Chinese paintings even more rare and respected. 

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Endless streams and mountains by Wang Hui

The fine classical painting, Endless Streams and Mountains, by Wang Hui (1632-1717) went under the hammer for HK$28.9 million, representing more than five times the high end of the estimated price of HK$5 million. The painting is one of only five that Wang has painted in his lifetime. It is an extremely rare handscroll, ink and colour on paper. Two of his paintings are currently preserved at museums, while two others are in an unknown location. Pieces like these are unique, especially before the rise of the ‘Individualist’ painters who opposed traditional rules in painting. His artworks represent Chinese history which can only be revisited in visual representations and physical materials which make them very rare and valuable. 

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Five drunken princes ride on horseback by Ren Renfa

An astonishing art piece that found its way to Christie’s Fine Classical Chinese Paintings auction block on 8 October was the extremely old and valuable six-foott scroll painting, Five Drunken Princes Returning On Horseback by Ren Renfa (1255-1328), an artist and government official during the Yuan dynasty. It sold at Christie’s Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Auctions on 8 July for HK$307 million though estimated price was only between HK$80  to $120 million. It has been documented in imperial collections and features a collection of seals, including those of several emperors. 

The most expensive art works by Chinese artists sold this October gafencu magazine zhang daqian ancient pine in lush mountainscapes
Ancient pine in lush mountainscapes by Zhang Daqian

Modern Chinese painting heralds diversification

With globalisation prompting all things Chinese to move outside China after world war II, Western influences are making their way increasingly into Chinese culture and arts. While traditional Chinese paintings were mostly done in black or coloured pigments, modern artworks are presented in a combination of oil and ink on canvas. 

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Scenery of northern China by Wu Guanzhong

Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010), one of the greatest contemporary Chinese painters, is also regarded as the founder of modern Chinese painting. His works feature a mix of Western and Eastern techniques — marked by the fusion of oil and Chinese ink painting. He travelled to Paris to study art at the prestigious Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts after world war II. His masterpiece, Scenery of Northern China, sold for a whopping HK$151 million at Sotheby’s Modern Art Evening Sale on 5 October. The six-meter-wide mural, assigned by the Central Academy of Craft Art, has been commissioned for Beijing’s Capital Airport, which at the time was of great importance for the optimism and pursuit of new opportunities after the cold war in 1978. The painting marked Wu’s contribution to the massive and historic national art program.

An introduction to Chinese Calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is one of the four treasures of ancient Chinese scholars. Though it is not as widely practiced today as it was in the past, it is a sophisticated form of longhand writing that surprisingly continues to enjoy keen adherents today. This treasured art form is reputed to enhance people’s mental fortitude and learning ability. Although computer keyboards have taken over most of modern-day communications, this traditional form of Chinese longhand writing remains valuable and useful to its practitioners.chinese calligraphy brush stroke gafencu magazine (6)It serves as a link to traditional Chinese culture and heritage

Calligraphy serves as an excellent manner to stay connected to one’s Chinese heritage and to gain insights to the evolution of Chinese scriptures over centuries of visual representation of the world. It serves as a manner for appreciating one’s intellectual and artistic roots.

chinese calligraphy brush stroke gafencu magazine by Zhuge Liang

It is a form of meditation

Chinese calligraphy requires meticulous technique and patience that are useful in developing a sharp focus among those who practise it. The skills developed while practising this form of long-handed writing require strict control of a brush which  serves as a meditative outlet for practitioners. This art form also helps develop a deeper connection between the mind and body. 

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It teaches discipline

Repeated practice over time and trained eyes eventually result in symmetrical, aesthetically-pleasing characters.  After learning calligraphy’s foundation and with muscle memory, the practitioner’s mind will achieve its highest performance level.  The rhythmic nature of brush writing lends itself to a full state of immersion. 

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It is an artistic outlet with a philosophical depth

Every aspect of the Chinese brush strokes, from the shape and size, to the type of hair on the brush and density of the ink, all play a part in distinguishing the final outcome of a Chinese calligraphy artwork. Each character is a unique symbol of a word. The philosophy of mastering Chinese calligraphy can be explained with the Yi (intentional) and Wuyi (unintentional) movements in art creation. It is an art form that teaches rules and control, but it also allows the artist’s heart to guide practitioners.

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There are still a few esteemed Chinese calligraphy teachers in the city who offer classes and workshops to willing students.

Here are a few places to take up Chinese calligraphy:

 

Cathy Ho, Cawah Arts Gallery

Chinese Calligraphy HK

Karen Tong Calligraphy

 

Art Basel 2020 goes online — again

Art connoisseurs need not be disappointed by the cancellation of the coming September’s Art Basel 2020, the world’s biggest and most prominent art exhibition.

As the world remains far from normal, Art Basel 2020 organizers have once again, wisely opted to switch to digital platforms this September and October. This year’s grand edition of the art show will re-open its Online Viewing Rooms in two tightly focused thematic virtual exhibitions.

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Art Basel in Basel (image: courtesy of Art Basel)

Art Basel’s first-ever online art exhibition in March this year quashed all uncertainties of hosting the biggest art event in Hong Kong through a virtual experience that attracted 250,000 viewers. The June edition featured 282 of the world’s leading galleries and a range of artworks from video installations to paintings and sculptures from 4000 artists. The global platform enables collectors and art enthusiasts to continue pursuing the value of art even amid the most adverse of times. Art Basel global director Marc Spiegler expressed that their decision to go viral reflects the significant responsibility that the art platform holds in continuing its support for galleries, especially amid the ongoing trying times.

“The highly-focused September and October editions of the Online Viewing Rooms (OVR) are an opportunity for us to keep this platform evolving and provide our galleries with additional opportunities in this highly dynamic moment,”
– Marc Spigler, Art Basel global director

The virtual viewing rooms intends to bring together its global network of collectors and exhibitors in an effort to inspire and extend the support of art enthusiasts and collectors. Both online exhibitions will tightly focus on thematic concepts over four days each, firstly featuring artworks created this year at the OVR:2020 from September 23 to 26 and again at the OVR:20c, where artworks tracing back to the early 20th century between 1900 and 1999 will be featured on October 28 to 31.

 

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Wentrup (image: courtesy of Art Basel)

Both online viewing rooms will showcase six works at a time by no more than 100 exhibitors. The new live-chat feature will enable viewers to pose questions and enquiries about artworks to galleries directly, enabling a seamless experience for virtual visitors to engage with the exhibitors. The first 48 hours of each virtual exhibition will be exclusive to Art Basel’s VIP guests.

Perpetual Music by Rolex: inspiring excellence amidst adversity

Rolex —the world’s leading brand for luxury watches— commands global attention to their newest initiative: Perpetual Music. Broadcasted from the homes of some of the most beloved masterpieces: Italy, France and Germany, the three-part concert hosted by four of this generations’ most established musicians and singers is expected to reach the visibility in a world-wide scale. 

Rolex Perpetual Music Support Musicians in online concert gefencu Sonya Yoncheva

Consistent with the Swiss company’s pursuit for excellence and its 50 years active involvement in art, culture and global conservation, Perpetual Music aims to foster the talents of  100 musicians and singers whose lives have been adversely affected over the past seven months. Featuring Peruvian opera talent, Juan Diego Flórez; critically acclaimed versatile artist, Rolando Villazón; highly sought after Bulgarian-Swiss singer, Sonya Yoncheva; and internationally renowned French violinist, Renaud Capuçon who filled an integral role in organizing the concerts. 

Rolex Perpetual Music Support Musicians in online concert gefencu

“During these difficult times, when musicians have suffered both the loss of audience and income, our aim is to provide them the opportunity to perform with renowned artists at prestigious venues with the finest acoustics”
– Arnaud Boetsch, Rolex Director of Communication & Image

Rolex Perpetual Music Support Musicians in online concert gefencu (2)

The recital will run between August 21, 2020 to early September and will be available to stream online for free through October. Broadcasted by medici.tv, a decade-long partner of the prestigious luxury brand, the initiative is expected to reach over 180 countries worldwide. 

The concert schedules are as follows:

August 21
Performance by Juan Diego Flórez with Teatro Rossini and Pesaro featuring an orchestra

September 1
Performance by Sonya Yoncheva with Berlin Staatsoper in a recital programme

September 3
Performance by Rolando Villazón and Renaud Capuçon with The Opéra national de Paris (Palais Garnier) featuring a repertoire of baroque and chamber music

The Splash: A striking piece by David Hockney sells at Sotheby’s auction

David Hockney – a pioneering artist in the field of pop art – once said, “Everyone knows a splash can’t be frozen in time, so when you see it like that in a painting it’s even more striking than in a photograph.” Fast forward to 2020, the British artist’s work, a piece titled The Splash proved the statement true by becoming the winning piece of Sotheby‘s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in London recently.

The Splash

Completed in 1966, this iconic piece was sold for £23.1 million, nearly eight times more than the price it fetched during its last trip to the auction block in 2006. The Splash is the second in the series of three masterpieces, along with Tate’s A Bigger Splash and The Little Splash that captures the action of water splashing right after a person dives into a pool.

Hockney, who moved from London to Los Angeles, was impressed by the city’s vibrant colours, bright sunshine and lifestyle, especially its plethora of private swimming pools, thus occurring in many of his works like the Picture of a Hollywood Swimming Pool that was auctioned at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction last November in New York.

In all, this Sotheby’s auction netted an impressive total sales figure of £92.5 million, with stand-out performers including Banksy’s Vote to Love, Francis Bacon’s Turning Figure and more.

2020-2021 Mentors and Protégés announced for Rolex’s Arts Initiative

Artistic and creative vision may be a constant in our world, but transforming it into an actual work of art requires knowledge and expertise that must be passed down through the generations. It’s a cause wholly supported by luxury Swiss horology brand Rolex, with its Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative aiming to support and perpetuate artistic excellence. Launched in 2002, this project pairs an experienced mentor and an upcoming talent in a particular form of art.

Arts Initiative

Recently, the luxury brand announced the one-to-one pairs for this cycle (2020-21). This year the chosen fields for the Arts Initiative include film, theatre, visual arts and an open category. Below is a brief mention of the pairs that will be working closely for the next two years.

Arts Initiative

In the film category, Spike Lee, the director of the Academy award-winning film Blackklansman will be training Kyle Bell – a filmmaker who worked on the Emmy-winning documentary production Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People.

Known for directing the groundbreaking musical and film Mamma Mia!, Phyllida Lloyd will be guiding Whitney White – the artist of positively critiqued theatrical creations like What to Send Up When it Goes Down.

As for visual arts, the multi-talented Carrie Mae Weems, who has executed her skills through her films, performances, scripts and more, has chosen to transfer her wisdom to Camila Rodríguez Triana – a Colombian visual artist whose creations have been displayed on exhibitions across Europe and South America.

Lastly, the well-known and award-winning actor Lin-Manuel Miranda will be working on the open category session. The trainee for this will be announced in March.

Arts Initiative

Click here for more details on this philanthropic mentorship programme.

Claude Monetised: Impressionist bridge landscape sets new auction record

Few rail commuters trundling into one of London’s busiest stations late last year would have had any notion that 5,600 kilometres away, in a far-off New York sales room, the very structure that was bearing their weight had excited an intense bidding war. To be fair, it was not the 19th century bridge itself that was exciting collectors but rather a rare chance to own a famous Impressionist depiction of it, painted by one of the grand masters of this hugely influential movement – Claude Monet –at some point between 1899 and 1901.

bridge

The artist, temporarily residing in London, was beguiled by the structure and its interplay with the heavy urban fog of the day and it became the subject of no less than 37 of his works. Today, many fine examples of his Charing Cross Bridge series grace the walls of some of the world’s leading art repositories, with very few ever offered for sale – indeed, prior the New York auction, there had been no opportunity to purchase one for nearly 20 years, which is probably why it went for US$27.6 million, exceeding its reserve by more than $7 million.

bridge