Celebrity Life

Lovers of art and supporters of ocean conservation will be in their element at the upcoming Blue Minds exhibition in London. An artist-led collective comprising 26 world-leading contemporary creatives, Blue Minds frames the ocean as an endless source of inspiration and highlights why a healthy ocean matters. This fully immersive show offers soundscapes, photography, installations, […]

"Our wish is to offer the public the keys to better understand Modern art and contemporary creation."

The post INFLUENCERS: A Special Exhibition Celebrating the Best of European and Southeast Asian Artists appeared first on LUXUO.

Despite the Renaissance artist’s fame, not everyone in Hong Kong has heard of Sandro Botticelli.

That, however, is set to change this month, with the opening of an exhibition of 42 works by Botticelli and other masters at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the launch of a four-month long programme of activities by First Initiative Foundation (FIF) in partnership with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Consulate General of Italy and a host of others. 

As the community partner for the exhibition, whose official title is The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Botticelli and His Times – Masterworks from the Uffizi, FIF has planned a series of workshops and activities designed to encourage the public to learn more about early Renaissance art – and to visit museums and galleries in general.

[caption id="attachment_211138" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Amanda Cheung is the managing director of First Initiative Foundation.[/caption]

FIF managing director Amanda Cheung, whose mother Michelle Ong set up the foundation almost 10 years ago as a way of supporting Hong Kong’s creative community, says that the aim is “to make this exhibition very inclusive and family friendly. FIF is known for bringing unique and accessible educational and community outreach programmes to Hong Kong and we’re beyond excited to devise this special hands-on programme to complement this exhibition.”

[caption id="attachment_211152" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Sandro Botticelli - Adoration of the Magi.[/caption]

Through a lengthy programme of activities that it’s put together, FIF hopes to empower the public to approach art by giving them the tools that provide a new lens through which they can learn to appreciate the beauty of everyday life. “The three key messages that I hope to foster and encourage,” says Cheung, “are that museums are for everyone, that art can be fun and easy to understand, and that it’s everywhere. I did a lot of research on the gap between art and the community and, after narrowing down my vision and identifying the key messages of the outreach, I enlisted help and expertise from the fields of art, education and public relations, who are all friends of FIF. I also put together a young committee consisting of a handful of my peers, so I can run ideas by them as well as make sure that we have diversity and different perspectives.” 

[caption id="attachment_211141" align="aligncenter" width="243"] Francesco Botticini - Madonna in adoration of the Child with Saint John and five angels[/caption]

In total, Cheung and the FIF team have devised various community outreach initiatives, the first being fun and accessible guided tours for visitors to the exhibition. Second, FIF is offering a programme of weekend workshops for the duration of the exhibition, which provide fun, interactive and engaging activities for visitors of all ages that range from coding and science-meets-art workshops for children and parents, to cocktail-mixing for adults – and all with themes or topics linking back to the exhibition. As well as the works of art themselves, the exhibition also features a wall of cards that provide a unique, role-playing unaccompanied guide. Visitors can pick the most appropriate character that matches their mood, with each providing a specially designed itinerary.

Beyond the museum, FIF has also created an illustrated storybook, an activity book and an audio book, as well as soft toys depicting two fictional characters – Sandro, a lucky boar from Italy and Trio, a three-legged toad from Hong Kong. Together, the pair work to solve a mystery that takes in a disgruntled portrait, museum magic and even delicious local cuisine. Based on the exhibition, the charming and educational story touches upon the importance of teamwork, exploration, curiosity and friendship, and will be read aloud to the public during community reading sessions.

[caption id="attachment_211142" align="aligncenter" width="174"] Sandro Botticelli - Madonna and Child.[/caption]

Moreover, film industry all-rounder Andrew Lau has produced a documentary that follows the journey of the Renaissance paintings from the walls of the Uffizi to Hong Kong for this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Directed by Jessey Tsang, the film offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of the knowledge and expertise necessary, as well as the immense amount of work involved, in putting together a large-scale international exhibition such as this. The film, which is to be screened as inflight entertainment by Cathay Pacific, stresses the importance of cooperation, as well as highlighting Hong Kong’s own talent. 

From curation to design concept to production, each phase of putting together this exhibition has created a building block for the next stage, leading to the opening  at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in late October.

The post Amanda Cheung of FIF on its Upcoming Art Exhibition Featuring Botticelli and Other Masters appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was the greatest style icon of the 20th century, and her designs continue to shape what we wear today.

Yet the Coco Chanel who emerges from the first exhibition ever dedicated to her work in Paris will come as a shock to fans of her brand's bling.

The creator of the little black dress, tweed suits, two-tone shoes and quilted handbags that are synonymous with French elegance was a very different animal to Karl "the Kaiser" Lagerfeld, who turned her label into a $100 billion business.

While the flamboyant German impressario had a magpie eye for street fashion, the Coco Chanel presented at the new show at the city's fashion museum, the Palais Galliera, was a futurist visionary of almost spartan refinement.

[caption id="attachment_210949" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Creations by French designer Gabrielle Chanel displayed during the exhibition "Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto" at the Galliera Palais fashion museum. (Image: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)[/caption]

Many of the dresses she designed and wore a century ago are so startlingly modern they could grace the catwalk now. The cliche is that Chanel freed women from the tyranny of Victorian corsetry, borrowing liberally from men's wardrobes to do so.

But for the curators of "Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto", an ongoing exhibition at Paris' Palais Galliera that runs till March 14, was only the tip of the iceberg.

Style revolution

Chanel created so much of modern style's DNA that her radicalism has been hiding in plain sight, said the museum's director Miren Arzalluz.

[caption id="attachment_210950" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Image: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)[/caption]

"Even for us it was a surprise how much even we didn't really know her work in depth," she told AFP. "Her style is so timeless and present in our lives... and so ingrained in our collective memory that no one thought it necessary to do a retrospective, because we all thought we knew it."

From her striped "mariniere" sailor top in 1916, to making black the colour of cool, letting women move freely in their clothes and being the first to see the potential of sportswear, her influence is utterly pervasive, Arzalluz argued.

Her Chanel No. 5 perfume, sold in simple square bottles with utilitarian black and ivory labels, was minimalist before minimalism was even a thing. "And her Chanel suits of the 1950s and 1960s were the uniform of modern women," she added.

[caption id="attachment_210953" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Image: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)[/caption]

But it is the breathtaking elegance of her cut and silhouettes which will come as the biggest surprise for those raised on Lagerfeld's showy 36-year reign.

What is also striking, Arzalluz insisted, was how Chanel stuck to her revolutionary guns despite the arrival of Christian Dior's New Look after World War II, with its return to wasp-waist corseted looks. "There's a coherence in her style from the beginning to end," Arzalluz said, in a span that goes from 1912 to her death in 1971.

That this is not shouted from the rooftops more often is partly because of what Chanel did during the war, and her subsequent flight to Switzerland after the liberation.

Don't mention the war

[caption id="attachment_210952" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Image: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)[/caption]

Arzalluz acknowledged her "complex personality", a reference to her "horizontal collaboration" with France's Nazi occupiers, and her attempts to use their anti-Jewish laws to prise back control of Chanel No. 5 from the Wertheimer family who had fled for their lives to the US.

Whole shelves full of biographies have dealt with how Coco spent the war tucked up in The Ritz with her German intelligence officer lover, Baron Hans Gunther von Dincklage.

Which was why Arzalluz said the museum — whose newly opened galleries have been partly funded by Chanel — took the "radical decision to concentrate on her work" rather than her private life. That was best "left to scholars and biographers", she said.

[caption id="attachment_210951" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Image: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)[/caption]

However, Arzalluz was at pains to point out that Chanel was never in thrall to men, a lesson she learned early when he father put her in an orphanage. "I don't like the idea that she discovered everything thanks to the men in her life — that she only used tweeds because of the Duke of Westminster... or her Russian-influenced period was because of (another of her affairs with) Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich," the last Russian tsar's cousin, and one of the men who killed Rasputin.

"It is just not true," the curator insisted.

Arzalluz said Chanel was "an avant-gardiste", far ahead of her time pioneering things "we all do now, mixing the ordinary with the chic, the masculine and the feminine, costume jewellery with the real thing.

"The way we dress today, wearing tailored jackets with jeans, or men's shirts, or trainers with airy chiffon dresses" is directly down to her influence, she said.

(All images: Stephane de Sakutin/ AFP)

The post How Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel Forged Much of Modern Style’s DNA appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Coravin, the wine lover's dream device that lets you pour wine without uncorking, is back with brand new models.

As fans of the smart wine preservation system, we have observed Coravin for some time and seen the brand expand with new technology every year. Now, they have extended their product lineup with the launch of new systems -- Models Three and Six. What's more, all new and existing models have been equipped with SmartClamps™, which, prior to the launch, was only available on Model Eleven. The new easy-on and easy-off clamps are designed to go over the neck of the bottle and push down firmly on the handle in one fluid motion, making the system even easier to use.

Coravin's wine access technology is all down to the hollow needle that is inserted through the cork, before the system pressurises the bottle with Argon (an inert, colourless and odourless) gas, to pour the wine out. Once poured, and the Coravin is taken off the bottle, the cork reseals naturally -- allowing wine to stay fresh for months on end, and years if needed.

The new systems also comes with a Coravin Screw Cap which allows users to enjoy new world wine (with screw caps) the same way as old world wine (cork) bottles, preserving them for up to three months.

So, with four Coravin Models in total, Model Three, Five, Six and Eleven, which model is the right one for you? Well, let's find out shall we.

Coravin Model Three

Details: Model Three is an upgraded version of Coravin's Model One and features a clean and simple, user-friendly and functional design in matte texture.
Perfect for: the everyday wine drinker.
Price: HK$2,080

Coravin Model Five

Details: Model Five is not available for retail as it has been made specifically for trade. The design is simply elegant but durable.
Perfect for: those in the industry who favour classic design with metallic accents.
Price: email for trade price

Coravin Model Six

Details: Model Six is the upgraded version of the popular Model Two Elite edition, it also features vibrant colours with chrome accents.
Perfect for: luxury style and fashion lovers.
Price: HK$3,580

Coravin Model Eleven

Details: Model Eleven is the smartest device of the Coravin family. It is the first bluetooth connected and fully automatic system. It comes with LED display, glass pour optimisation, and connection to the Coravin Moments app, which tracks system statistics and advises on wine pairings with food, music and more.
Perfect for: technology and gadget enthusiasts who love a varied wine experience.
Price: HK$6,880

The post Jewellery Artist Cindy Chao Brings Masterpiece London to Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Coravin, the wine lover's dream device that lets you pour wine without uncorking, is back with brand new models.

As fans of the smart wine preservation system, we have observed Coravin for some time and seen the brand expand with new technology every year. Now, they have extended their product lineup with the launch of new systems -- Models Three and Six. What's more, all new and existing models have been equipped with SmartClamps™, which, prior to the launch, was only available on Model Eleven. The new easy-on and easy-off clamps are designed to go over the neck of the bottle and push down firmly on the handle in one fluid motion, making the system even easier to use.

Coravin's wine access technology is all down to the hollow needle that is inserted through the cork, before the system pressurises the bottle with Argon (an inert, colourless and odourless) gas, to pour the wine out. Once poured, and the Coravin is taken off the bottle, the cork reseals naturally -- allowing wine to stay fresh for months on end, and years if needed.

The new systems also comes with a Coravin Screw Cap which allows users to enjoy new world wine (with screw caps) the same way as old world wine (cork) bottles, preserving them for up to three months.

So, with four Coravin Models in total, Model Three, Five, Six and Eleven, which model is the right one for you? Well, let's find out shall we.

Coravin Model Three

Details: Model Three is an upgraded version of Coravin's Model One and features a clean and simple, user-friendly and functional design in matte texture.
Perfect for: the everyday wine drinker.
Price: HK$2,080

Coravin Model Five

Details: Model Five is not available for retail as it has been made specifically for trade. The design is simply elegant but durable.
Perfect for: those in the industry who favour classic design with metallic accents.
Price: email for trade price

Coravin Model Six

Details: Model Six is the upgraded version of the popular Model Two Elite edition, it also features vibrant colours with chrome accents.
Perfect for: luxury style and fashion lovers.
Price: HK$3,580

Coravin Model Eleven

Details: Model Eleven is the smartest device of the Coravin family. It is the first bluetooth connected and fully automatic system. It comes with LED display, glass pour optimisation, and connection to the Coravin Moments app, which tracks system statistics and advises on wine pairings with food, music and more.
Perfect for: technology and gadget enthusiasts who love a varied wine experience.
Price: HK$6,880

The post Catch SCoP’s “Beyond Fashion” Exhibition in Shanghai appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.

So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.

Well, what are you waiting for...

The post Discover the Intricacies of Rubies and Sapphires at the L’École School of Jewelry Arts Exhibit appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

A group exhibition co-presented by the National Museum of Art, Osaka and Singapore Art Museum titled They Do Not Understand Each Other is currently on view at Tai Kwun’s art galleries in JC Contemporary.

Taking its name from an artwork in the exhibition by Japanese artist Tsubasa Kato, They Do Not Understand Each Other brings together commissions and artworks from the collections of the National Museum of Art, Osaka (NMAO), and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) -- two institutions that have built extensive national collections of contemporary art within their regions -- which revolve around the theme of the exchange of culture. The exhibition features works in various media such as videos, mixed-media works, paintings, sculptures, textiles, stories, performances, kinetic installations and photography and presents two new commissioned pieces and 23 artworks from the existing collections of NMAO and SAM. The selection of artists hail from Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Puerto Rico and beyond, bringing diverse and unique perspectives on representation and cultural exchange.

This is a unique chance to see some of the most contemporary works of these two major Asian museums. Taking the idea of understanding and collaboration as a foundation, the exhibition also shows how much intangible artworks like photography, video and performance entered important institutions and are now seen as an essential part of our cultural heritage. – Tobias Berger, Head of Art at Tai Kwun

[gallery ids="207332,207333,207334,207336,207337,207338,207339,207340"]

If culture is shown through representation, then cultural exchange is naturally based upon understanding. Thus, through this exhibition, viewers are able to appreciate cultural exchange in various forms and intensities; Tai Kwun explains it as speaking "to boundaries, borders, gaps, spaces, surfaces, interfaces, and divisions that exist because of – for lack of a better word – an unevenness in encounters between individuals, peoples and things”. Curator of NAMO, Yuka Uematsu, agrees with, “cultural exchange is not about perfect understanding, but rather opening up a dialogue via unique perspectives”.

This is shown through the title piece -- also named They Do Not Understand Each Other -- is a performance artwork that takes place on Tsushima islands, an archipelago that lies between Japan and Korea. Here, two figures are seen carrying out a simple task together while not being able to understand the others' native language. The piece delineates the success achieved through the cooperation of the artist and his Korean counterpart attributed not only to their mutual patience and good humour, but also to an understanding that transcends language. The artists appear as mediators in acting to intercede and reconcile disparate cultures, helping us to understand each other better.

They Do Not Understand Each Other is curated by Yuka Uematsu, Curator at the National Museum of Art, Osaka and Dr. June Yap, Director of Curatorial, Collections and Programmes at Singapore Art Museum. It is currently on view until September 13.

The post Tai Kwun’s Latest Exhibition ‘They Do Not Understand Each Other’ is Now Open appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The French Maison has released a virtual tour of their landmark exhibition for their ardent patrons who may have missed the show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the V&A Museum in London. While de-containment has already started in several countries, to soften the confinement by awakening your senses, Dior makes its ground-breaking […]

The post Dior’s “Designer of Dreams” exhibition Virtual Tour for the global audience appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.

Following last year’s announcement of its global representation of Tu Hongtao, lovers of Chinese modern art will be pleased to know that Lévy Gorvy will present a solo exhibition of his key paintings from the past decade and a half.

Occupying the entire space of Lévy Gorvy’s Hong Kong gallery on the ground floor of St. George’s Building, the exhibition will showcase the development of Tu’s practice ranging from his early cityscapes to his recent works which synthesise Chinese and Western painting traditions. Boasting a selection of paintings loaned by museums as well as by important private collections from China and Hong Kong, the exhibition includes his earlier urban landscapes and the expressive abstractions that make up his current works.

With his academic background specialising in oil paintings from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Tu began his career during an era of rapid transformation in his country – one that saw the end of its collective economy and the rise of the market economy and globalisation.  Observing the social and environmental changes in his hometown of Chengdu, he began to compose sardonic cityscapes featuring piles of human bodies and dolls that reflect contemporary feelings of confusion, tension, and desire. In addition to manifesting the anxieties of Tu’s generation, these early canvases established his ongoing engagement with cross-cultural histories of landscape painting, using the density of these landscapes as, in his own words, “both an abstract background and a real space".

[caption id="attachment_206889" align="alignnone" width="1847"] A Horse of All Things, 2014-18. Oil on canvas, 82 11/16 x 126 inches (210 x 320 cm). © Tu Hongtao.[/caption]

A highlight of the exhibition, -- A Horse of All Things -- takes its title from Daoist philosopher Zhuang Tzu's aphorism that "everything passes like a galloping horse," and demonstrates how Tu presents the concept of time in Chinese literature onto his canvas in a purely abstract expression. In fact, Tu has described his relationship with painting as “finding philosophical insights from traditional poetry". Inspired by the landscape poems of ancient Chinese literati, these paintings constitute a unique view of the Chinese landscape, capturing poetic qualities and allowing time to be traced back within his works.

In addition to oil paintings, several works on paper will also be exhibited to outline Tu’s conceptual process as well as guide viewers to better understand of his aesthetic. The exhibition also features a short film directed by Taiwanese actor and film producer Wang Yu which provides insight into Tu’s creative process, personal background, and striking works of art. The exhibition is currently on view until June 30.

The post Lévy Gorvy Presents A Survey of Paintings by Artist Tu HongTao appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In response to the current climate, Sotheby’s has launched “Contemporary Showcase,” its new digital initiative comprised of a new series of boutique online auctions.

Modeled after a dynamic “pop-up shop” concept, the online auction adopts a fast-paced auction format with varied thematic presentations. Recently, it has unveiled its latest exhibition under this initiative – manga. The selling exhibition offers  an exciting collection of unique illustrations and original Animation Celluloid Pictures (cel-ga). Featuring some of the most beloved characters from popular animation series such as Pokémon, Dragon Ball, Astro Boy and Anpanman, these unique drawings and cel-gas are from some of the most prestigious animation houses such as Studio Ghibli and Toei Animation. Given that manga is a worldwide cultural phenomenon spanning comic books, anime and gaming, it seems like a fitting theme for Sotheby’s online auction. With its influence seen in different fields ranging from fashion, film to contemporary art, manga seems to be a new trend in collectible art.

"During this unprecedented time, Asian collectors have enthusiastically participated in our online sales programme, driving record results that demonstrate the resilience of the Contemporary Art market. Our new ‘Contemporary Showcase’ series responds to this success, and we are confident that the new initiative will bring new and exciting opportunities for our audiences, both in Asia and worldwide." - Yuki Terase, Head of Contemporary Art, Asia of Sotheby's

[caption id="attachment_206551" align="alignnone" width="2261"] Jungle Emperor Leo by Mushi Production, Leo Animation Cel[/caption]

According to Sotheby’s, “with swift turnaround between consignment and sale, the series meets the needs of both sellers and buyers in the rapidly evolving market, while allowing [us] to continue to bring exciting and ahead-of-the-curve offerings to clientele.” As a response, 60 unique drawings and Animation Celluloid Pictures will be offered for auction online while an additional 95 pieces will be presented in a selling exhibition at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery (by appointment only). For people still reluctant to leave their homes, Sotheby's is offering an interactive virtual tour so viewers can browse through the exceptional collection inside the gallery. This exciting 360-degree experience will be available on Sotheby's website for any manga fans and art lovers to browse at their leisure.

The post Sotheby’s Manga Auction Goes Online appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.