FAR EAST MOVEMENT
Gagosian’s Hong Kong location in Central’s Pedder Building is among the first in the city to re-open after the lockdown; Nick Simunovic (pictured) was at the forefront of expanding the New York-based gallery’s presence in Asia.
東方魅力
Gagosian位於中環畢打行的香港店是城中隔離後首批重開的同行業務之一； Nick Simunovic全力推進這間紐約藝廊於亞洲的發展。
It has not even been a decade since director Daphne King Yao took over operations of Alisan Fine Arts, the Lyndhurst Tower gallery co-founded by her mother Alice King in the 1980s that has been a pioneering force in promoting Chinese contemporary ink art in the city. Yet Daphne, who fell in love with art “really through osmosis” during museum visits and meeting artists around the world with her mother, has forged her own path. “I’m particularly focused on promoting women artists who until very recently have not had the respect and attention that they deserve, as well as emerging artists who have created works that are unique within the realm of ink art,” says Daphne.
At the heart of her appreciation for the craft is the belief that “art has the power to connect people from all over the world, bring down barriers and foster closer understanding”. Alongside supporting institutions such as Le French May and Asian Cultural Council, she is putting the finishing touches on a show running from now through September that will showcase the work of over 25 Hong Kong artists spanning over 50 years from the 1960s until today. “In moments of uncertainties and difficulties it is important to turn to art as it transcends boundaries,” explains Daphne. “I, like my mother, strongly believe in the power of art and its role in crosscultural understanding; and now this is particularly important to remember.”
距離總監Daphne King Yao接手營運Alisan Fine Arts還不到十年時間，她母親Alice King合夥創立的Lyndhurst Tower藝廊自1980年代起，已一直穩站城中推動中國當代水墨藝術的先驅位置。多次跟母親與世界各地藝術家的見面，以及造訪博物館的經驗，讓Daphne不知不覺迷上藝術，更因而有了「真正的參透領會」，開闢出屬於自己的前路。Daphne說：「我特別專注並推廣尚未受應有重視與關注的女藝術家，以及在水墨創作藝術領域裡展現獨特風格的新進創作人。」
她對工藝鑑賞的核心理念就是「藝術具有能將世界各地人們連結一起，打破障礙並加深相互理解的力量」。除了來自法國五月藝術節和亞洲文化協會等機構的支持外，她還默默地努力為《Uniquely Hong Kong》寫上圓滿一筆，這場展覽將進行至九月，帶來1960年代至今五十年間、超過二十五位香港藝術家的作品。Daphne解釋說：「在不安定或困難之時，最重要是轉向藝術，因它有著突破界線的能力。我和母親一樣堅信藝術本身所蘊藏的力量，以及了解不同文化的角色，來到當下此刻更需要緊記這點。」