Actor and singer Michael Wong hosted a fundraiser for Operation Smile
It was an A-list kind of night at Whitestone Gallery, where actor and singer Michael Wong hosted the launch of Shunga, an exhibition of 19 new artworks by Mizuki Nishiyama on June 30. Critics have hailed the New York-based, Japanborn artist for her raw paintings that explore human vulnerability. Shunga refers to a traditional form of Japanese erotic art created using woodblock prints, which the Parsons School of Design graduate uses to explore Japanese aesthetics and western cultural expectations of Asia. Three of Nishiyama’s paintings, Bloom, Nurture and Paths, were donated to be sold at auction in aid of Operation Smile, the charity that has provided surgical care to children born with facial deformities since 1982. Wong, who has been announced as the organisation’s latest ambassador, will embark on relief trips around the world once travel resumes. “I’ve always been a supporter of [chairwoman of Operation Smile] Alice Chiu, and the charity is dear to my heart, so a portion of all my sales under the MW brand will always go towards this cause,” Wong adds. Caught among the flashing cameras and clamouring television crews were Kathy Chiu, Anthony Sinn, Yumiko Honda, Monica Cheung, Shirley Cheng, Marcus Lee, Doreen Ho, Yany Kwan, Albert Wong and Elaine Chen-fernandez, as well as Wong’s family. Bottles of Mumm champagne went down a treat, as did spoonfuls of Wong’s newly launched line of caviar, MW Caviator, as guests admired Nishiyama’s work to a soundtrack of classical music performed by members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. “I’m a caviar junkie. I grew up freshwater fishing,” Wong says, explaining his new culinary venture. As well as his children, Kayla, Irisa and Kadin, each influencers in their own right, Wong also counted the support of his wife, model Janet Ma, by his side. “It’s really fun seeing my dad in his element,” Kayla says. “We grew up watching him do so much and he has a great entrepreneurial spirit, so it’s exciting to see what he’ll come up with next.”