FOR Art’s SAKE
Dedicated to fostering cross-cultural art appreciation, the Global Group has forged partnerships with many prestigious institutions for regional and international projects
Once a year, Hong Kong gets a tremendous creative boost when Art Basel, along with the vast array of exhibitions during Art Week, stimulates the public interest in visual arts. But once the whirlwind week is over, the spotlight on international art continues to shine brightly, thanks to patrons like the Global Group, which are keen to support the city’s ever-evolving art scene year-round.
Founded by Hong Kong-born businessman and philanthropist Johnny Hon, the Global Group is set on building a broader, more inclusive creative culture in the city. Here, it has a two-fold mission: to provide a unique platform for Hong Kong audiences to view art from different cultures, while enriching minds and inspiring audiences with fresh creative and cultural perspectives.
Through a series of partnerships and collaborations with various consulates, the Global Group has supported a number of platforms in Hong Kong for the presentation of art exhibitions in the belief that art is important for a healthy society and should be part of everyday life.
“The Global Group is open to partnerships with any party that shares the same goal and commitment: to enhance people’s lifestyle and well-being by helping to pique public interest and foster appreciation of art and culture in our society, as well as let more Hong Kong people better understand different countries and their ways of life,” says Hon, who is also the Honorary Consul of Grenada in Hong Kong.
Through its generous support, the Global Group has hosted a series of art events exploring different cultural perspectives, an important step towards creating a community where each of us feels connected.
In November last year, the Global Group presented Chinese Physiology 3D, a solo exhibition by Argentine artist Carolina Kollmann at the Areteos Art Space in Hong Kong. While the artist’s inspiration comes from within, Kollmann uses external elements such as the differences in Chinese physiology and aesthetics to express herself. This exhibition was one of the highlights of the 7th edition of the Argentina Festival in Hong Kong. It featured seven paintings that combined 3D printmaking technology with acrylics on canvas.
Following Kollmann’s exhibition, the Global Group partnered with the South African Consulate General to present the Heritage Collection, an exhibition by documentary photographer Matthew Willman, who for 10 years has worked alongside President Nelson Mandela and was commissioned to take photographs for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Comprising 16 images, the exhibition was divided into two parts, the Nelson Mandela Heritage Collection and the Zululand Rhino Orphanage Collection. In the former, Willman presented rare portraits of the personal and public life of South Africa’s first democratically-elected president and anti-apartheid icon, who died in 2013. The second part was dedicated to an exclusive photographic collection showcasing the work of the Zululand Conservation Trust, which rescues and rehabilitates orphaned rhinos in South Africa.
This photographic exhibition was further testament to the Global Group’s efforts to build cross-cultural understanding while honouring artistic achievement. “Art and culture facilitate participation in the life of society and contribute to a creative and fulfilling quality of life,” says Hon.
Looking ahead, Hon’s commitment to international arts runs deep. “We will bring more high-calibre art exhibitions and activities to Hong Kong through partnerships and collaborations with different consulates, allowing Hong Kong people to appreciate various facets of art and culture,” says Hon.
Planning is underway to mount further exhibitions in collaboration with the Brazilian, Mongolian, Romanian and Israeli consulates and some exciting announcements can be expected soon.