Category: Gallery

A Fishy Affair: The Dark Underbelly of Hong Kong’s Seafood Industry

Hong Kong’s seafood industry is swimming against the tides of sustainability, find out how…

Hong Kong's seafood industry

Doctors, wellness consultants and health enthusiasts alike urge us to include fish in our daily diet (read more about our daily dietary needs here), but is too much fish a bad thing? Well, maybe not for us, but it could spell disaster for the environment. According to a recent study by HKU, ADM Capital Foundation and WWF Coral Triangle Program, wild-caught reef fish like grouper and coral trout may soon vanish from our dinner tables unless we take some quick actions.

Hong Kong's seafood industry

So what’s the problem and how do we solve it?

Let’s break it down in some quick facts:

  • Hong Kong is the global hub for reef fish trade worth over 1 billion US dollars, much of which is unreported and unregulated.
  • Hong Kong sources wild-caught fish from more than 170 territories, and has a huge footprint in seafood trade.
  • The ‘wild fish’ trade is not large by global fishery standards, but it is disproportionately valuable because it supplies extremely high-value fishes.
  • The demand of reef fish is almost 6 times higher than their sustainable supply rate.
  • For example, the highly coveted Napoleon fish, worth more than 600 US dollars per kg, have been seriously depleted due to exploitation.

Hong Kong's seafood industry

So what can we do?

 Well for starters, government can impose stricter laws and regulation and fish traders should abide by them for long-term benefit. From our side, we need to think twice before consuming ‘wild’ fish. As Dr Yvonne Sadovy, a professor at HKU, says, “We are not talking about not eating fish at all. What we are talking about is not eating so many wild fish that we destroy their populations. We need to know where the seafood comes from, that it’s legally sourced, safe to eat, and that it is sustainable.” So wondering what is sustainable fish? Check out Choose Right Today to know more.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Easter Getaways from Hong Kong: Our roundup of the top four travel destinations for Easter

With the Chinese New Year holidays already over, if you’ve started daydreaming about Easter getaways from Hong Kong, then we’re on the same page as you! To optimise the next extended weekend on the calendar, we have a roundup of some of the most beautiful travel destinations around the world!

Easter getaway at Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

One reason to go: Kyoto blushes a pretty shade of pink every spring, thanks to the cherry blossom season that starts around late March and continues well into April. According to Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC), Kyoto will see full blooms this year from 27 March to 4 April, which coincides perfectly with Easter holidays.

Where to stay: Four Seasons Kyoto

Easter getaways at Whistler

Whistler, Canada

One reason to go: Whistler is not just a perfect alternative when Niseko in Japan becomes over-crowded, it’s a world-class skiing destination in itself. Try your hand at snowshoeing, tobogganing and ski jumping on the upper slopes where there will be plenty of snow. You can even extend your vacation to witness the World Ski and Snowboard Festival which starts from 10 April 2018.

Where to stay: Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Easter getaways at Macchu Pichu

Machu Picchu, Peru

One reason to go: Peru is a great destination all year round, but Easter sees the end of the wet season and the start of the peak dry season. Head there during the Easter break to have a tranquil stay among fewer crowds.

Where to stay: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

Easter getaways at Reykjavik

Reykjavik, Iceland

One reason to go: April’s clear skies are ideal for viewing the unique Aurora Borealis. Easter’s warmer temperatures also see waterfalls starting to melt – a view as breathtaking as the Northern Lights themselves!

Where to stay: Tower Suites

If these destinations already have you planning the perfect vacation selfie for Instagram, we suggest you start booking the hotels and flights right away! The thing about Easter getaways is that everyone wants to get away during this  

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Restaurant review: With wholesome Cali cuisine, Big Sur brings a slice of California to Central

The moment you enter Big Sur, you’d be forgiven if you thought you had accidentally landed in a barbecue joint right in the middle of sunny California! From its blue and blonde timber interiors to the signature Californian bear head sculpture at the entrance, Big Sur resembles a traditional Californian diner even before you take a look at the menu!

Big Sur offers 14 different types of craft beer

What draws you in at this newly opened restobar at SoHo is not just its warm interiors, but also the rows and rows of beer taps – 15 to be exact – located strategically near the entrance! That’s right, Big Sur boasts 15 different taps that serve 14 rotating craft beers, created by Hong Kong’s Young Master Brewery, as well as a tap-served gin and tonic.

Look out for unusual brews like Orange is the New Black, a decadent limited-edition release with ‘roasty’ coffee notes and Fake Juice, a fruity IPA that’s perfect for spring.

If cocktails are your preferred poison, head to Big Sur’s cocktail section. You may be pleasantly surprised to find your favourite cocktails being given a healthy makeover with fair-trade craft spirits and fresh-pressed fruit juice. The only loophole? You may end up quite tipsy as these ‘guiltless’ tipples taste more like juice and less like alcohol, coaxing you to drink more than you otherwise would! We speak from experience…

Big Sur’s mixed BBQ plate is soul-fulfilling

To match the well-stocked bar, Big Sur offers a wholesome menu to boot. Executive Chef Conor Beach draws from his American heritage to plate up a contemporary barbecue cuisine in typical Cali style, with a healthy dose of Latino fare to match. We were particularly impressed by the Baja Taco (HK$50 each) and the Whole BBQ Fish (HK$290), which combined hearty and healthy in a sumptuous duet.

For the dessertarians in the house, we’d recommend the Texas ‘Sheet’ Stack Cake (HK$90), a wholly decadent affair in chocolate cake, dark chocolate glaze, pecans, walnuts and pistachios, topped with whipped cream.

Big Sur
Big Sur’s Texas ‘Sheet’ Stack Cake will get a nod of approval from the most discerning dessert lovers

Oh, and did we mention that Big Sur doubles up as a breakfast and lunch destination for office-goers and the weekend crowd alike? In other words, whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, Big Sur’s doors are always open for you from 9am till late.

For reservations, call (852) 2529 3001 or click here.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Valentino men’s exclusive pop-up store: A sportswear revolution

Valentino Pop-Up

Valentino celebrated the opening of VLTN MEN’S exclusive pop-up store in the IFC Mall with a cocktail reception followed by an after-party on 26th January 2018.

With an aim to introduce the new VLTN MEN’S Collection, the series of pop-up stores and installments will be displayed in Valentino boutiques and multi-brand stores worldwide.

The capsule collection features a selection and development of items from Valentino Men’s Spring-Summer 2018 collection. Items include sport, active aesthetic and hip-hop culture reappearing in new contour conception, an athletic wardrobe reappearing under a new classical form and active tracksuits that complete and modernise male elegance.

Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli creates a collection entirely dedicated to redefining men’s apparel. While each item conveys the idea of activewear and sportswear revolution, it also represents the taste of freedom and self definition; the essential values of Maison Valentino’s aesthetic.

Details:

Opening Hours: 10:30 – 20:00

Location: Shop 2071, IFC Mall

Hashtag: #VLTNHONGKONG

Text: Hira Desai

Smart Cars with AI: The future of urban transport is here

Dashboard of a Smart Car from Samsung

Jack Ma may have said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a threat to us at the recent World Economic Forum at Davos, but car companies are pouring big bucks into AI-driven smart car designs. According to telecom giant Ericsson, smart cars with AI are here to stay and will revolutionise the way we travel.

Ericsson mentioned in a recent report that the advent of 5G technology will make roads safer by enhancing vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Sensors embedded in roads, railways and airport runways will make vehicle-to-infrastructure communication smoother as well.

While this may seem like the stuff of our wildest sci-fi fantasies, the reality is closer than ever. This January onwards, self-driving shuttle buses have begun plying one of the busiest areas of Stockholm. Travelling at 24 km per hour, these buses offer a glimpse into the future of urban transport.

Predictably, carmakers are competing against each other to offer the latest technology to customers. At the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 – the global stage for innovation – automotive solution provider Nvidia announced partnerships with several carmakers, including biggies Audi and Volkswagen.

Audi has already showcased an autonomous test car at CES this year, but with Nvidia’s AI solutions, the learning capability of smart cars will be enhanced further. 

The new models, with inbuilt computing hardware and software, will hit the markets by 2020.

Smart car dashboard

Nvidia has also partnered with Volkswagen to add ‘intelligent co-pilot’ systems. VW will use Nvidia’s Drive IX Intelligent Experience platform to enable a wide range of features, including voice and facial recognition, gesture control, and safety warnings.

Another automaker that is breaking new grounds in this area is Tesla. It recently introduced TeslaBot, the virtual assistant synced with the Tesla models S and X. The new bot is similar to Tesla’s native app, but offers more in terms of allowing users to interact with their car from a desktop or a phone.

In sync with current technology trends, Uber has already tested its first batch of self-driving smart cars in 2016. It has also formed the Uber AI Labs to develop self-driving cars with the help of top scientists and engineers.

It seems the days of rude drivers and parking tickets are going to be over soon. Let’s hitch a ride to the future already!

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Bigger & Boulder: Attract attention with these unconventional layered looks

Winter is here, but that’s no excuse for drab fashion. Need a bit of inspiration? Check out these unconventionally bold layered looks!

Opera Gallery hosts hyperrealist artist Mike Dargas’ first solo exhibition in Asia

Hong Kong’s art scene is already gearing up for March, most art-centric month of the year. Ahead of the two biggest art events in March – Art Basel and Art Central – the art galleries are hosting an array of art exhibitions by both local and overseas artists.

The most recent one to have caught our attention was Mike Dargas’ solo exhibition at Opera Gallery running from 19 January to 9 February. A German artist based in Los Angeles, he specialises in the perfect fusion of classic technique with the aesthetics of the digital age. Simply put, his paintings look so real that unless you look closely, they look like photographs.

Through this hyper-realistic technique, he explores the various nuances of human skin. A recurrent theme of his paintings is a frozen moment in time that arrests the path of a liquid dripping from a model’s face. This stillness – poignant in its spontaneity – captures the painting’s inner soul in a perfect moment. His current exhibition at the Opera Gallery, titled ‘Healing Beauty’, is all about this perfection of the soul and the feminine, fragile nature of identity. Dargas says, “My paintings catch an emotional snapshot and try to evoke a certain feeling to the viewer”.

Top Props: Robby the Robot joins the list of most valuable movie props to be sold at auctions

The original poster of Forbidden Planet starring Robby the Robot
The original poster of Forbidden Planet starring Robby the Robot

Move over, R2-D2. There’s a bigger, badder bot in town. Robby the Robot – a movie prop from the 1956 film Forbidden Planet – outperformed its Star Wars counterpart, at least in the cash-grabbing category. Collectors were stunned when an R2-D2 model sold for about US$2.8 million (HK$ 21.9 million) last year, but Robby came along and raised the bar, going for a record US$5.3 million at Bonhams’ recent Out of This World auction in New York.

Robby movie prop
Robby the Robot is a prop of towering proportions

Why the discrepancy? At seven feet tall, Robby’s basketball player proportions might offer some clue. Add to that the fact that this fully-functional suit – whose head, torso and legs can be dismantled – came with its Jeep, controls and the original MGM packing crates. Although it’s been more than 60 years since Forbidden Planet debuted, Robby the Robot still holds cult status among sci-fi fans. In an attempt by MGM Studios to get the most bang for their buck, Robby has also featured in The Twilight Zone, The Addams Family and other films.

Robby’s previous owner, filmmaker and collector, William Malone, who brought the robot to auction, said, “I’m astounded by the result, but also sad to part with him. However, it’s time Robby finds a place where he can be displayed, and with someone who can look after him. Of course, he will leave an empty spot in my house—and in my heart.”

movie props
The Maltese Falcon (to the left) and Marilyn Monroe’s dress (to the right) have been previous record holders in the non-automotive section.

Robby’s sale secured its status as the most expensive movie prop ever sold at auction, beating previous record holders including the falcon statue from The Maltese Falcon, the Batmobile and the dress made famous by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven-Year Itch.

The craze for collecting movie props reached a peak in 2013, when Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia Department made history in New York, selling the Maltese Falcon statue from the noir classic of the same name for US$4 million, then a record price for a movie prop at auction (non-automotive). The 12-inch-tall Falcon was the star of the Bonhams inaugural movie props sale with partner Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

Batmobile movie prop
The 1966 original Batmobile

Automotive movie props too have grabbed a fair share of the spotlight for quite sometime. In 2010, the Aston Martin driven by James Bond (played by Sean Connery) in Goldfinger had fetched a handsome US$4.6 million. The 1966 original Batmobile again touched the record US$4.6 million when it was bought by a Phoenix-area businessman in 2013.

Dr. Catherine Williamson, Director of Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams, says, “This is the fifth year we have partnered with TCM to present auctions of movie memorabilia, and each year the demand only increases. It shows how important these props and costumes are to everyone throughout the world.”

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Chopard hosts Happy Hearts exhibition to celebrate store opening at Elements

Swiss high joaillerie brand Chopard has just opened a new boutique at Elements. Chopard threw a star-studded cocktail reception on 12 January to announce the grand opening. 

Renowned actress Cherie Chung officiated the ribbon-cutting and lion dance ceremony, along with Chopard’s Artistic Director and Co-President Caroline Scheufele, Chopard Asia-Pacific’s CEO Stephan Ritzmann and MTR Corporation’s top brass Theresa Leung. The event also saw footfall by socialites such as Jessica Cambensy, Antonia Li, Veronica Lam, Elly Lam, Victoria Tang, Jason Chan and many others. 

To mark the occasion, the jewellery house is also hosting a Happy Hearts exhibition at the mall’s Metal Zone atrium from 12 to 21 January.

Featuring Chopard’s iconic heart’s collection, the exhibition is a tribute to the brand’s key motif of love. On display are long sautoir necklaces, pendants, bracelets, bangles, rings and earrings from the Happy Hearts collection. The showstopper of the exhibition was definitely the giant bangle tunnel, which provides great photo opportunities for guests!

No Strings Attached: Fashion for those ready to mingle this Valentine’s Day

Single and red-y to mingle? We’ve got you covered this Valentine’s Day. Pull the right strings already!