Celebrity Life
The Matterhorn in Switzerland Lights Up with Inspirational Messages
As the world looks for a beam of light to shine through times of darkness, Switzerland takes this conception quite literally and lights up Europe’s most famous mountain in Zermatt. The slopes of Matterhorn have become the backdrop for light artist Gerry Hofstetter as he illuminates the skyline with messages of positivity.
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Two weeks back, colourful projections were splashed on the Swiss Alps in a series of images with the mission of spreading hope and solidarity to the world. Since 24 March, the majestic 14,690 ft. mountain has seen textual messages and hashtags such as #Hope to lift spirits, #StayHome to encourage social distancing, and #AllOfUs to reinforce solidarity followed by the national flags of several countries stricken by COVID-19 such as Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Japan and most recently USA.
[inline-quote author=" Light artist Gerry Hofstetter"]"Light is hope. So if you do a message with light in such a situation as we are in now, you give that hope – especially with this iconic, standalone, pyramid-shaped, incredibly strong mountain."[/inline-quote]
Every night from sunset until 11:00PM (GMT+2), Hofstetter displays a light show that celebrates those on the frontlines while providing those that are doing their part -- by staying at home -- a form of entertainment. For those of us that aren’t within proximity to view the art first-hand, we can catch the show through the official website of Matterhorn, Zermatt.
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Has the Shock Factor Replaced Artisanal Expertise in Art?
In an art world obsessed with big ideas, one might be forgiven for believing that technique has taken a backseat to concept. How can a brushstroke – even the most masterful one mankind has ever seen – compete with the sight of a melting glacier placed in
the middle of a major European city, or a minute of fraught silence enjoyed opposite one of the world’s most eccentric performance artists, or even a cocky supermarket banana taped casually to a white wall?
And yet, while the greater public may not queue hours for a selfie opportunity with it, and the press may not dedicate yards of news column to it, art that’s more focused on technique than big showy ideas isn’t just the purview of craftsmen and artisans – not that the two are mutually exclusive, anyhow.
In a generation that’s fast becoming slave to the showiness of one-upmanship, a “slow” approach to creating art is becoming increasingly important, all the more because it’s increasingly rare. Take a peek at the much-debated ArtReview Power 100 list: top- ranked artists Nan Goldin, Hito Steyerl, Yayoi Kusama, Pierre Huyghe and Banksy are either there for their politics, or for their work’s ability conceptually to shock. Sitting at number 20, Theaster Gates is described as “The artist who does more outside the gallery than within”, while at number 24, Ai Weiwei is lauded not for his installations that incorporate, among other things, Chinese porcelain, but for remaining “newsworthy in a year that’s been quieter than most on the exhibition front ... indicative that what happens in the studio is only half the story.”
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Liberty of the Wind, Lam Duen Shan Ming, at Crafts on Peel[/caption]
How about the artist that does more inside the studio than out? There’s no doubt that the art game today is more about what happens in galleries and auction rooms, but don’t some collectors still care about process?
Glenn D Lowry, who incidentally ranks number one on the aforementioned list, appears to think so – as part of MoMA’s splashy relaunch last year, the museum’s director included within the opening programme a temporary exhibition called Taking a Thread for a Walk, with a focus on textile traditions. Similarly, the Whitney Museum has on show Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950-2019, which explores how some 60 artists, such as Eva Hesse and Robert Rauschenberg, were inspired by traditionally female-associated craft techniques.
Has this stateside interest played out in similar fixations closer to home? A year ago, when local revitalisation project The Mills debuted in Tsuen Wan West with its associated art institution CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts & Textile), the directors were careful in the naming process, choosing “textile” over “textiles” so as not to bind themselves into a discourse that involved only fabric art – an understandable distinction, but also a bit of a pity. As a result, exhibitions traverse digital, performance, conceptual – as well as pieces forged of cloth. Crafty artists, for sure, reckon in what is exceedingly well- considered programming – its winter exhibition featured an exhibition by Japanese textile designer Sudo Reiko of Nuno, a textile-design firm that’s been instrumental in combining traditional fabric techniques with advances in modern tech – but it’s still worth noting that the powers that be sought specifically not to box themselves in.
While the reason for CHAT’s breadth of programme arose from the definition of Nan Fung’s textile mills as manufacturing hubs, rather than centres of artisan genius, the newly launched Crafts on Peel wishes to place the spotlight purely on the myriad possibilities inherent in working with Chinese craft techniques. This not-for-profit creative venue was founded by Yama Chan, whose priority it was to “preserve and revive our traditional craftsmanship so that we can continue to celebrate our [past] and cultural identity”, she says. “Our history, traditions and heritage give us our identity and bind us together as a community with a sense of belonging. With rapid economic development and the onset of mass production, it’s all the more important for us to rescue our slowly disappearing heritage. To breathe life into traditional crafts, we encourage young artisans to learn the skills of traditional craftsmanship – and to find modern purposes for these traditional crafts.”
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Reborn Merman, Cheung Foon x Jinno Neko, at Crafts on Peel[/caption]
What this means, on a practical level, is finding masters of these rare skills – which range from the arguably non-artistic art of making bird-cages to those deft in guangcai, or Chinese porcelain painting – and connecting them with young designers and artists to encourage collaborations that take each party into happily unfamiliar territory. For its inaugural exhibition, for example, interior architect Lawrence Ting created a bamboo chandelier using techniques gleaned from fifth-generation family bamboo-steamer company, Tuck Chong Sum Kee.
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Swirly, Tuck Chong Sum Kee x Lawrence Ting, at Crafts on Peel[/caption]
In the last decade, for reasons beyond simply the political, Hong Kong has been in the throes of establishing its own distinctive identity beyond the label
of “Chinese” – and Crafts on Peel in this initial exhibition is tackling, in a broad survey manner, what exactly Hong Kong’s own artisanal crafts are, though many of these talents can be found in other cities. But forging this identity will take longer than the length of one show, and Crafts on Peel will zero in on individual skills in its subsequent programming.
“From Hong Kong, we will venture to other countries in the region in our next two exhibitions on the themes of Bamboo and Metal Works. Not only will we invite bamboo and metalwork artisans from countries such as mainland China, Japan and Taiwan to come to Hong Kong to exhibit their creations, they will also be staying and working at Crafts on Peel through our Artisan in Residence Programme, to collaborate with our local artisans,” says Chan.
In doing so, the differences between various cultures are more easily appreciated. Hong Kong artists have a nice history of spotlighting culture-specific motifs, whether it’s Stanley Wong’s appropriation of red-white- and-blue bags or Tang Kwok-hin’s vocabulary of quintessential Hong Kong scenes and ready-made items,but local craftsmanship? Not so much.
The conundrum remains, though, that much of the product of these craft collaborations remains terribly useful – not a problem when you need a new lighting fixture, perhaps, but there aren’t too many home-decor objects that make it to the floor of Art Basel, no matter how unique or beautiful.
What takes it to the level we call art? It’s probably a question people will never stop asking, and which can never be answered, but we’ll consider one final example, regardless, as we each come to our own inevitably futile conclusions.
CHAT’s choice, this winter, was to showcase the work of a textile designer, rather than a so-called pure artist. In the same vein, Marc Newson is known more for his usable wares – the industrial designer is beloved by brands both luxury and mass market and he’s designed everything from pens to boats to the Apple watch. As you might imagine, he’s done a chair or two at some point in his career – so what makes his most recent furniture collection worthy of not one, not two but three shows with super art gallery Gagosian?
[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Untitled-design-25.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Untitled-design-23.jpg" right-caption="Cloisonné Yellow Chair, Marc Newson" left-caption="Dark Orange Glass Chair, Marc Newson"]
It’s certainly not function – they might not be super comfortable, but one could definitely sit on these cloisonné couches. Given the scarcity of artisans familiar with the almost-forgotten Chinese technique, however, creating this collection meant finding the people and equipment to execute this craft on a sofa-sized scale (typically, this complicated enamel work is performed on teeny tiny things such as watch dials or ornamental vases) – Newson ended up creating his own cloisonné factory in Beijing, a process that took five years. The work is so intricate that to put out some thirty furniture pieces will give the factory years of future work. Does that make it art?
“People still struggle a bit with whether it’s design or art,” Newson says with a shrug. To him, the distinction is no longer important – there are design objects that cost lots and are one-off, just as there can be art that’s mass market and commercially available.
“Ten years ago, if you [saw] this sort of sculpture- stroke-art thing, you’d have imagined that in 10-15 years’ time, it would have been a new genre of work that really existed in its own right, but I haven’t seen that really. They still can’t get their head around what it is, and what that says to me is that it’ll just always be like that.”
And that’s just the way the world works – Ai Weiwei breaking an ancient urn will always make for a better story than all the other times he chooses
actually to make some pottery. The world can remain enamoured with headline-makers like Olafur and Maurizio, but in their own quiet way, many of these artisanally driven artists are also making their marks, as well they should.
Getting Crafty: Spotlighting Artists Working with Traditional Techniques in New Ways
Broken Dreams
Korean Yeesookyung’s bulbous sculptures incorporate Japanese kintsugi, in which cracks in damaged porcelain are repaired and highlighted with gold, and were just shown at Massimo di Carlo at the end of 2019.
One Step Forward
Also at the end of last year, Galerie du Monde displayed works by Wang Gongyi, which took traditional Chinese silk painting techniques into a new realm. Her work is currently on show in the gallery’s group exhibition 3E14, titled after the gallery’s booth number at the now- cancelled Art Basel, until April 18.
Practical Magic
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Costumes, Tapestries, in Boro Textiles, Sustainable Aesthetics, Susan Canciolo, at New York's Japan Society[/caption]
Fashion designers-cum-artists Susan Cianciolo and Christina Kim’s Boro Textiles: Sustainable Aesthetics, is showing in New York’s Japan Society. The exhibition explores contemporary manifestations of the traditional Japanese patchwork technique and closes June 14.
Industrial Evolution
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Marc Newson[/caption]
Just closed last month was the third Gagosian exhibition of limited- edition furniture by Marc Newson, this time at Tarmak 22 at Gstaad Saanen private airport in Switzerland. The show featured his cloisonné pieces, but also cast glass and Murrina works, using Venetian techniques adapted for use on a larger scale.
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Lady Gaga Announces Her Star-Studded Virtual Benefit Concert for Covid-19
Life as we know it seems to have come to a standstill with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Schools are closed, flights are cancelled and even the world's biggest events have been called off. So we had little hope to attend a live concert in the near future. Or so you thought.
Lady Gaga and the World Health Organization (WHO) have joined forces with Global Citizen, a social action platform that has produced a series of stay-at-home concerts, to put on a virtual benefit concert to aid the fight against the pandemic. The live concert, named One World: Together at Home, will be broadcasted globally and is in honour of healthcare and community workers on the front lines.
The celebrity-filled concert will be headlined by the likes of Billie Eilish, Elton John, Coldplay, John Legend, Lizzo, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Chinese pianist Lang Lang and many more will join the Oscar and Grammy award winner on the stage. Meanwhile, the event itself will be hosted by talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
The broadcast will also feature stories of the workers and showcase their first-hand experiences in fighting this disease. In a statement by Global Citizen: "viewers around the world can take action by visiting www.globalcitizen.org/togetherathome to call on corporations, governments, and philanthropists to fund critical global COVID-19 response efforts, including support for frontline health care workers"
For those looking to tune in, the live broadcast will kick off at 9:00am (Hong Kong time) on Sunday 19 April 2020.
#TogetherAtHome @WHO @GlblCtzn https://t.co/9nxv0J96JC pic.twitter.com/3mXi6d5tbF
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) April 7, 2020
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Argentine-French artist and designer, Pablo Reinoso and his sculptures
Pablo Reinoso is an Argentine-French artist and designer who has been working and living in Paris since the late seventies. He is most famous for his public installations and sculptures which he creates from traditional materials eg, metal, stone and also from wood. Perhaps one of his most recognized pieces is the spaghetti bench and […]
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The Shows and Movies You Need to Watch This Weekend
Staying in is officially the new going out. And if you're looking for ways to stay entertained, there's no time like the present to catch up on some good old-fashioned TV time to unwind or take your mind off the stresses of the world. Ahead, we’re sharing our favourite shows and movies to stream in the comfort of your own home. The options include those available through Apple TV, Netflix, and HBO Go. Now all you need is a sofa, or a comfy bed, snacks, and a considerably large chunk of time to binge watch all the shows and movies.
Sex and the City (HBO Go)
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Photo: HBO[/caption]
Romance | 6 Seasons
Sex and the City is a classic. The four main New York-based characters Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda get themselves into a myriad of dramatic and comedic situations that often end up a little romantic. And you’re bound to relate to them in one way or another. There are a total of six seasons and two movies for you to take on.
Kim’s Convenience (Netflix)
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Photo: CBC[/caption]
Comedy | 4 Seasons
I was born and raised in Toronto and live in Hong Kong now, but I do get homesick from time to time. That’s why when I discovered Kim’s Convenience, I was immediately hooked. Kim's Convenience tells the funny and heartfelt story of the Kim family. Mr and Mrs Kim are Korean Canadian convenience store owners who have worked hard to give their children, Janet and Jung, a better life in Toronto, Canada. Of course, you don’t have to be Canadian to enjoy the show, the storyline is super charming and unique.
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (Netflix)
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Photo: Sony Pictures[/caption]
Comedy-drama | Movie
I’ll admit, I haven’t seen Once Upon A Time in Hollywood yet, but it's on my list. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the movie. Plus, over the past award season, it won numerous awards. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It features a star-studded cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, the film follows an actor and his stunt double, as they navigate the changing film industry, and features multiple storylines in a modern fairy tale tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age. There's also news that the film may be repackaged as a Netflix miniseries.
Insecure (HBO Go)
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Photo: HBO[/caption]
Comedy-drama | 3 seasons
Season 4 of Insecure is about to premiere and I am beyond excited. Insecure is one of those shows where, from the start, you immediately relate to what the characters are going through. The show follows Issa and her friends as they navigate their career and relationship experiences while living in Los Angeles, California.
Master of None (Netflix)
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Photo: Netflix[/caption]
Comedy-drama | 2 Seasons
Master of None is one of those shows that the majority of millennials and Generation X-ers can relate to. The series was created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, and stars Ansari in the lead role of Dev Shah. His character is a 30-year-old actor, and the series mostly follows his romantic, professional, and personal experiences. The show has won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe so far.
The Morning Show (Apple TV)
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Photo: Apple TV[/caption]
Drama | 1 season
The Morning Show is an American drama web television series starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, that premiered on Apple TV+ late last year. The show gives an inside look at the people on TV who help Americans wake up each day, while exploring the challenges faced by the people who work in the world of morning television.
Love Is Blind (Netflix)
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Photo: Netflix[/caption]
Reality | 1 Season
Netflix recently sent the whole world down a rabbit hole of reality TV chaos when they released the first few episodes of Love Is Blind, and it quickly became the show that everyone was talking about. The concept behind the show is simple (and a little cringe-worthy). It follows 30 single men and women who are hoping to marry. For 10 days, the singles hunt for their forever loves without ever seeing each other, and only speaking to one another in pods separated by a thin wall. At the end of the experience, they are given the chance to propose to the love of their life so they can live happily ever after(?).
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Kaws and Acute Art Launch Augmented Reality Sculptures Around the World
You may remember Kaws' giant floating sculpture making its way down Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong last year. Well, he's done it yet again. But this time around, the American artist and designer has launched a virtual reality (VR) experience in collaboration with augmented reality (AR) and VR specialists, Acute Art. Dubbed Expanded Holiday, the virtual experience demonstrates the enormous potential of AR and conveys a sense of mischievous humour through the juxtaposition of physical and virtual worlds.
The global launch, which took place on 12 March 2020, consisted of three components: a public exhibition and two editions. The exhibition sees 12 monumental AR sculptures available to audiences via the Acute Art app from 12th to 26th March in major cities and locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, and South America. For the editions, the first instalment comprises 25 AR sculptures (1.8 metres) that will be available for purchase through the Acute Art site for approximately HK$77,731 (US$10,000) each. The second release will be an open edition consisting of AR sculptures arriving in three distinct colourways that will be released in various timeframes. Individuals who download the works will be able to keep them for 24 hours or 10 days, and share their experience on social media. Prices start at approximately HK$54 (US$6.99) for one sculpture for 24 hours.
Kaws explains in a statement, "When I realized the quality that could be achieved and experienced in AR, I was immediately drawn to its potential… I have been creating objects and exhibiting works in public spaces throughout my career, and this allows me to expand on that in a whole new arena. The possibilities of locations and scale are endless, and I’m excited to start a new dialogue in this medium."
For those looking to download the Acute Art App, it’s now available through iPhone, Android, Samsung, and various other devices. You can also head to Acute Art’s website for more information.
View our gallery below for a preview of the public sculptures in various locations:
[gallery size="full" ids="197232,197227,197235,197230,197233,197228,197229,197234,197236,197237,197231,197259"]
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10 Inspirational Artists on Instagram to Follow Right Now
Thanks to the power of Instagram, art has been given another platform to express itself.
The result of which allows artists, far and wide, to showcase their work while broadening their audiences. What's more it also gives artists the chance to let viewers in on parts of their personal life. So whether it's art previews, art archives, or just art friends and art lives you want to get to know, here are 10 of our top artists to follow and get your art fix right now.
Ai Wei Wei
Instagram: @aiww
Follow for: an insight into the Chinese renegade artist's creative and political viewpoint. As well as plenty of selfies with his work and friends of the art world to scroll through.
Anish Kapoor
View this post on Instagram
Instagram: @dirty_corner
Follow for: art using the world's 'blackest black', in which Anish Kapoor has purchased exclusive rights to, along with more hyper-pigmented work from the British Indian sculptor.
Banksy
Instagram: @banksy
Follow for: unannounced projects, sneak peeks and more from the anonymous and unpredictable street artist. There are also a few witty socio-political thoughts (typical of Banksy) to read now and again.
Damien Hirst
Instagram: @damienhirst
Follow for: recent works and exhibitions from the celebrated British contemporary artist, as well as shots of him in action in studio.
Jeff Koons
Instagram: @jeffkoons
Follow for: images of the American artist's works, both old and new. His Instagram also illustrates parts of his personal life including his travels and family that will feature on the 'gram from time to time.
JR
View this post on Instagram
Instagram: @jr
Follow for: records of the French photographer and street artist's works all over the world. The 'photograffeur' (as he describes himself) also likes to post a fair few selfies with famous friends and will sometimes share their works too.
Kaws
Instagram: @kaws
Follow for: what the American artist and designer (real name Brian Donnelly) is known for: giant inflatables and mutant toys, but also for candid snapshots of his personal life, including photos of friends and his children.
Olafur Eliasson
Instagram: @studioolafureliasson
Follow for: eco-inspired thoughts and artworks from the Danish-Icelandic artist who often uses natural elements to convey the movement. He will also post photos of his most recent projects alongside art archives, and even environmental calls for action.
Petra Collins
Instagram: @petrafcollins
Follow for: a blend of fashion photography and editorial art. The Canadian artist, model and photographer's feed has a very distinct aesthetic that showcases sexy pastel-
Takashi Murakami
Instagram: @takashipom
Follow for: fun snaps of the Japanese contemporary artist and his popular works. Aside form his celebrated super flats, you will also find selfies and photos with celeb friends including the likes of Pharrell and Kanye West.
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Rolls-Royce Art by media artist, Refik Anadol
Turkish-born and Los Angeles-based media artist, Refik Anadol, has created a unique work of digital art for Muse, The Rolls-Royce Art Program, using data sets relating to the color of every Rolls-Royce motor car created at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England. The artwork, titled “Art of Perfection” conveys a unique data painting derived […]
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Art Basel to Launch Online Viewing Rooms This March
After officially canceling its Hong Kong art fair due to fears surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak, Art Basel has now announced that galleries planning to show their work at the fair in March will be able to sell their work via online viewing rooms. Available to exhibitors for no additional cost, the viewing rooms will be accessible to the public through Art Basel’s website and the fair’s app from March 20 to 25.
In a statement by Marc Spiegler, Global Director of Art Basel, “As the art market continues to evolve, Art Basel has continually investigated how new technologies can give us new opportunities to support our galleries... The online viewing rooms will provide galleries with a further possibility for engaging with our global audiences, complementing the essential personal interactions that continue to underly the art market”.
Art Basel organisers have also stated that the online activation is not meant to replace the future editions of the fairs in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong, but rather to complement “the essential personal interactions that continue to underlie the art market.” Art Basel’s recent decision to incorporate online viewing rooms into its programming highlights the importance of digital experiences within the art world. Galleries like the Gagosian and David Zwirner, have previously set records by selling through these online platforms. Sam Orlofsky, a director at Gagosian, told ARTnews in 2019 that an online viewing room “bridges the greatest gap between us and potential buyers,” making the overall buying process more transparent.
The online viewing rooms will officially begin on March 20 through 25 via Art Basel's app, and the VIP preview will run from March 18 to 20.
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7 Must-see Movies by Oscar Winning Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho
Probably the most talked about film surrounding the 2020 awards season, Parasite, along with its maker South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho has received an insurmountable amount of attention recently -- and for good reason.
The breakthrough film is a work of art; the genre-bending, class-conscious film twists and turns with dark, thrilling and hilarious moments throughout, making it a quick favourite among audiences, critics and judges around the world. Since winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and winning not one, but four Academy Awards at this year's Oscars (including the biggest win for Best Picture) Bong Joon-Ho is paving a new future for foreign films. Just as the director famously said at the Golden Globes: “Once you’ve overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
And while Parasite seems to be the pinnacle of Bong's 20 year career in film right now, there are some of his previous works worth mentioning too; there's the post-apocalyptic science fiction Snowpiercer starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, who also appears in the Netflix action and adventure film Okja alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, among others. It is with that in mind that we thought you might like to know which Bong Joon-Ho films are worth the watch. So here it is, seven must-see movies by the award-winning filmmaker you should see right now.
Barking Dogs Never Bite, 2000
Genre: Drama/comedy
Starring: Doona Bae, Sung-Jae Lee, Ho-jung Kim and more
An idle out of work college lecturer becomes fixated and frustrated by the sound of barking dogs in his apartment building. The down-trodden man decides to take action to silence it.
Memories of Murder, 2003
Genre: Crime/drama/action
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sang-kyung Kim, Roe-ha Kim and more
Set in 1986, two simple-minded detectives are assigned to a double murder investigation in a small South Korean province. They struggle with their investigation to solve the case and find the serial killer.
The Host, 2006
Genre: Action/drama/horror
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Hee-Bong Byun, Hae-il Park and more
The result of careless chemical dumping into Seoul's Han River, a monster emerges from the waters and begins attacking and killing hundreds. The creature then abducts a young daughter and her family endeavour to save her.
Mother, 2009
Genre: Crime/drama/thriller
Starring: Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin and more
A widowed mother lives with her mentally challenged son in a small town in South Korea. When the body of a horrifically murdered young girl is discovered, circumstantial evidence points to the son. The mother has to do what it takes to clear her son's name.
Snowpiercer, 2014
Genre: Action/drama/science-fiction
Starring: Chris Evans, Kang-ho Song, Tilda Swinton and more
Thanks to a failed experiment to combat climate change, the world's final survivors are on board the Snowpiercer, a high speed train travelling around the globe. A new class system emerges and separates the upper-class citizens from the lower-class who want nothing more than to go to the front of the train.
Okja, 2017
Genre: Action/adventure/drama
Starring: Seo-hyun Anh, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and more
Young Mija has been looking after Okja, a big and brilliant beast, with her grandad for years. But that changes when a multinational conglomerate comes to takes Okja away and Mija is intent on rescuing her dearest friend.
Parasite, 2019
Genre: Comedy/mystery/drama
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Woo-sik Choi and more
A poor family con their way into the lives of a wealthy family by becoming their new employees. However, it gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure and the unpredictable occurs.
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State of The Art: Art Basel Returns to Hong Kong This March
If it’s March in Hong Kong it must be “art month”, and much of the activity and focus during the city’s international fine-art carnival revolves around its most established world-class event: Art Basel. Along with Basel itself and Miami, Art Basel in Hong Kong is one of three venues on the fair’s annual circuit, during which it presents commercial-gallery displays and related exhibitions, lectures and screenings, as well as collaborative arts and lifestyle events, on three continents.
Its first ever art fair, naturally, debuted in Basel, Switzerland in 1970; then came the Miami Beach fixture in 2002; and finally Hong Kong’s own event joined the party in 2013. Held in the same venue – the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre – as in the previous seven years, this year’s show promises that roughly half of the 241 galleries expected to display artwork have exhibition space in the Asia-Pacific region.
Although much attention is on contemporary artists – both the big-name collectable variety and emerging practitioners – Art Basel also offers the opportunity to view work by some of the biggest names in modern art and other 20th-century genres, which regularly grace the pages of western and Asian art-history tomes and websites. So, expect to see works from the likes of Peter Blake, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Haruki Murakami, Yue Minjun, Marc Chagall, Chen Yifei, Salvador Dali, Alberto Giacometti, David Hockney, and Pablo Picasso, among many other living and late stars of the fine-art world. While a few galleries usually display a handful or two early 20th-century works, it’s art in all forms – from painting to sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, installation and edgier media drawn from the last seven decades – that make up the bulk of what’s on show.
As ever, the Art Basel experience is enhanced by obtaining a VIP card, which means no waiting in queues but instead using priority entrances to the show, unlimited viewing over the three-day event and access to the VIP lounge, which also houses a restaurant and bar, as well as the hospitality booths of the main Art Basel partners.
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Gallerie Urs Meiler, Marion Baruch, Endless Going Trying To Say, 2020.[/caption]
Close Encounters
Always making a dynamic impact are the shared display areas known as Encounters, which are sited in prominent locations throughout the show and dedicated to large-scale sculptural installations and performances.
Curated by Alexie Glass-Kantor, executive director of Artspace in Sydney, this year’s 12 Encounters pieces are collectively entitled While We Are Here. The renowned and emerging artists comprise Marion Baruch, Gimhongsok, Lee Bae, Lim Oksang, Andrew Luk, Mike Nelson, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Imran Qureshi, Asad Raza, Handiwirman Saputra, Adeela Suleman and Yuk King Tan.
Korean Kukje Gallery shows Gimhongsok’s Solitude of Silences, 2017, 2019, a performance work that at first appears amusing and then gives pause for thought. Nine of the Encounters works shown are making their premieres in Hong Kong, including a new textile-based sculptural piece called Endless Going Trying to Say by Romanian artist Marion Baruch, which questions the clothing industry’s production processes and use of natural resources.
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Gallery Exit, Wilson SHIEH, ESWN (Male Version) 2019, Chinese ink and gouache on silk.[/caption]
Making Discoveries
Emerging talents in the art world are regularly highlighted in an area called Discoveries, which shows solo artists’ works from various galleries – this year there are 25 in all. The variety of pieces include include A+ Contemporary’s new work by Taipei and Berlin-based artist Musquiqui Chihying, entitled Three Amazing Moments (2019), featuring a composite of 3D-printed sculptures, video, and sound works; a new project by Hong Kong-based artist Leelee Chan called Pallet in Repose (Resurfacer) at Capsule Shanghai; Fine Arts, Sydney’s presentation of new work by New Zealand-based South Korean artist Yona Lee; a performance by the artist duo Felix Bernstein and Gabe Rubin at David Lewis; and British artist Flo Brooks’s new installation of five paintings at Project Native Informant.
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Jan Murphy Gallery, Tjungkara Ken, Seven Sisters 25-19, 2019.[/caption]
Sharing Insights
Art Basel Hong Kong incorporates a spotlight on curatorial projects on Asian art history – called Insights – this year being presented by 21 galleries all of which have spaces in Asia. Highlights include Shanghai-based gallery Bank’s presentation that pays tribute to the modern fibre-art tradition in China, showcasing work by Shi Hui in dialogue with pieces by her late Bulgarian teacher, the artist Maryn Varbanov; Jan Murphy Gallery’s inclusion of work by two Tjala artists and leaders in the Western Desert-painting movement, Sylvia Ken and Tjungkara Ken; Nova Contemporary’s showcase of influential contemporary Thai artist Chatchai Puipia; and first-time participant Axel Vervoordt Gallery’s solo booth with Korean artist Kimsooja: her installation Encounter – A Mirror Woman (2017-2019) is a vertical mirror erected on a mirrored floor, standing as a form of painting without a trace of the artist’s hand, in which the viewer becomes an active performer in a three-dimensional canvas.
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Kukje Gallery, Gimhongsok, Solitude of Silences, 2017, 2019.[/caption]
Conversations Worth Hearing
The daily Conversations programme offers in-depth dynamic discussions that explore key issues in today’s art world. Panellists are prominent figures from across the international art world, each offering a unique perspective on producing, collecting and exhibiting art. Exact details can be found online and these free seminars can be pre- booked.
50th Anniversary Project
Christina Li, curator of Hong Kong’s art showcase at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019, is curating the Hong Kong iteration of Art Basel’s intercontinental art project to mark its 50-year history in 2020.
Art Basel is staging an ambitious art project, with distinct facets unfolding at all three fairs – beginning at the Hong Kong show in March, continuing at Basel in June, and concluding in Miami Beach in December. The international project, organised by a cross-borders curatorial team with different cultural backgrounds and perspectives, is under the artistic direction of renowned Berlin-based curator Kasper König. The Hong Kong leg, curated by Li, will be a one-off highlight of Art Basel 2020 here, with no specifics revealed at the time of writing.
Art Basel in Hong Kong 2020 runs from March 19-21; details can be found here.
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5 Extraordinary Museums You Need to Visit in Your 20s
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The post 5 Extraordinary Museums You Need to Visit in Your 20s appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.