Non-profit Art Spaces
Hong Kong’s non-profit art spaces and museums highlight both local and international artists in a series of thought-provoking shows
Hong Kong’s non-profit art spaces shine a light on local and international artists this month
ASIA SOCIETY A Story of Light: Hon Chi-fun and Yukaloo by James Turrell
Two giants of the art world, Hong Kong artist Hon Chi-fun, now in his late 90s, and American artist James Turrell, are featured at the Asia Society. Hon is renowned for co-founding the Circle Art Group in the 1960s, a pioneering collective of artists hailed for bringing modern art to Hong Kong. At this exhibition, more than 30 of Hon’s artworks—a mixture of paintings, prints and photographs made over a 40-year period—are on show, while the non-profit is also showcasing James Turrell’s Yukaloo, one of the artist’s famous immersive light installations.
March 12 to June 9. Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, 2103 9511. asiasociety.org
TAI KWUN CENTRE FOR HERITAGE AND ARTS Far Away, Too Close, and Performing Society
Tai Kwun is hosting two exhibitions, the first of which is Far Away, Too Close. This is part of Contagious Cities, an international project organised by the charitable foundation the Wellcome Trust to mark the centenary of the 1918-19 flu pandemic. Through art, Far Away, Too Close hopes to spark conversations about what we can do to stop global epidemics. Elsewhere in Tai Kwun, Performing Society, curated by Susanne Pfeffer, director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt, explores gender and sexuality through sculptures, installations and video art. Far Away, Too Close runs until April 21 and Performing Society runs until April 28. Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, 3559 2600. taikwun.hk
M+ PAVILION Noguchi for Danh Vo: Counterpoint
This show presents sculptures by acclaimed 20th-century Japaneseamerican artist Isamu Noguchi alongside new works by Vietnamesedanish conceptual artist Danh Vo, exploring both artists’ commitment to making connections across cultures. A series of talks, tours, performances and workshops accompanies the exhibition.
Until April 22. M+ Pavilion, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2200 0217. westkowloon.hk
PARA SITE An Opera for Animals
Exploring both the history of the “high art” of opera and our basest animal instincts, this sprawling show touches on topics ranging from the historic role of theatres to the importance of rituals and the future of technology. Among those featured in the show are South Korean artist Haegue Yang, pioneering Indonesian artist Heri Dono and Hong Kong’s own Trevor Yeung, who is featured in our photo shoot on page 52.
March 23 to June 9. 22/F Wing Wah Industrial Building, 677 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, 2517 4620. para-site.org.hk
HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE 5th Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration on Chinese Private Collection
Art collecting is becoming increasingly popular in Mainland China, with more and more of the country’s tycoons starting collections and, in some cases, launching their own private museums. This exhibition at the Hong Kong Arts Centre investigates this phenomenon by showcasing the works of three leading collectors—guan Yi, Zheng Hao and Lu Xun—to reveal what art inspires and entices collectors from Mainland China.
March 27 to April 22. Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2582 0200. hkac.org.hk
CHAT Unfolding: Fabric of Our Life
To mark its grand opening, the Centre for Heritage Arts and Textile (Chat) is hosting an exhibition that brings together works by 17 contemporary artists and artist collectives from around Asia. To read more about the exhibition, see page 42.
March 16 to June 30. Chat, 4/F The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, 3979 2300. themills.com.hk
K11 ART FOUNDATION Glow Like That
The K11 Art Foundation is hosting an invitation-only exhibition that reflects on the booming beauty industry, and in particular investigates the buzzword “glow.” Today this word appears in countless adverts for make-up but has historically been a preoccupation of artists and art critics. Expect to see Chen Wei’s glossy photographs of neonsoaked nightclubs alongside Larry Bell’s coloured-glass cubes, as well as plenty of other sleek artworks. For more on this show, turn to our interview with the foundation’s artistic director, Venus Lau, on page 70.
Glow Like That is open by invitation only. Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. k11artfoundation.org
ASIA ART ARCHIVE Form Colour Action
This exhibition at the Asia Art Archive (AAA) showcases Singaporean performance artist Lee Wen’s drawings and works on paper, as well as documentation of his performance works. AAA’S focus on performance art continues at its booth at Art Basel, which is open from March 27 to 31 and features documents from the archives of practitioners including Frog King and Betsy Damon. On March 28, artist Zhang Peili will deliver a lecture at AAA exploring the role of performance art in his own practice and in the development of the arts in Mainland China.
Form Colour Action: March 13 to June 15. Asia Art Archive Library, 11/F Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2844 1112. aaa.org.hk
LIANG YI MUSEUM Chrysanthemum and Dragon: The Art of Ornamentation in Japan and China in the 17th–19th Century
Offering unparalleled insights into the arts and crafts movements in China and Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, this exhibition showcases everything from small kiseru tobacco pipes to sprawling pieces of Qing dynasty furniture, revealing how the two countries have influenced each other.
March 18 to August 15. 181-199 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2806 8280. liangyimuseum.com