We've handpicked some art exhibitions and events to check out this March. Read on to discover more.
The Hong Kong Arts Collective: 100 Woodblocks Later
We're so excited that this March we're hosting our first solo exhibition in this space, 100 Woodblocks Later by Michelle Fung. development to merge woodcut and drawings. This exhibition features works from her ongoing “The World of 2084” project, alongside works that celebrate the Year of the Dragon. The wood carvings are presented as original artworks rather than part of the printmaking process.
The unique medium demonstrates the artist’s continued experimentation to merge woodcut and drawing techniques. The former presents a unique aesthetics that can only be achieved with a blade, whereas the latter is versatile and can be intuitive, loose, laboured or layered. Five years and over 100 woodblocks later, she realised her favourite part of the entire printmaking process is carving. Tracing her roots in drawing and further exploring her obsession with woodcut, she has developed a unique style of “original wood carvings”, combining drawing and woodcut together.
When: 1st March - 5th April 2024
Image: courtesy Michelle Fung
G/F, Centre Point, 181-185 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Young Soy: Why No Hug?
Young Soy Gallery is proud to present Why No Hug?, a solo exhibition featuring the latest body of works by the Hong Kong artist, Humchuk (Ricky Luk). Having abandoned a career in architecture 10 years ago, Luk embarked on a journey to capture the intricacies of the human experience by translating everyday dialogues into his minimalistic expressions.
The series, “Why no Hug?” is Luk’s response to the challenges we encounter in our evolving identities in the midst of a chaotic time when wars and conflicts are prevalent. To him, these struggles though can be encapsulated in mere words, the emotional impact they have on us defy easy descriptions. Manifested in the lines and monochromatic palette employed in Luk’s works, he delves into the recesses of our hearts, posing us the question — “If everything could be made simpler through a hug, why don’t we try to reshape our world with a simple hug?”
When: 14th March - 31st March 2024
Image: courtesy Young Soy
The Cove, G/F, 40A Upper Lascar Street, Sheung Wan
Wyndham Social: Choreopolis by Sophia Hotung
Wyndham Social gladly presents Sophia Hotung's Choreopolis in collaboration with a|n gallery. The collection of 10 artworks melds elements of Hong Kong landmarks with classic ensemble sequences from Broadway and West End musicals. The works highlight locations such as Wan Chai, Cheung Chau, and Happy Valley and will feature musicals such as Chicago, Newsies, and My Fair Lady. The artworks’ names are portmanteaus, puns, or hybrids of the Hong Kong location, musical’s title, or song name. Sophia Hotung's full collection of originals and prints will be on show at Wyndham Social from 14 March to 28 April. Tours, workshops, and performances are also schedule throughout the exhibition.
When:15th March - 28 April 2024
Image: courtesy Sophia Hotung
G/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
Yrellag Gallery: The Monster
Yrellag Gallery is honoured to present “The Monster”, the first solo exhibition featuring Claire Lee’s latest works, since the artist moved back to Hong Kong after 8 years living in the UK. The “monster” emerged from a variety of repurposed materials, witnessing pain and suffering within himself and others. In this chaotic world, he has created for himself an imaginary sanctuary for contemplation.
“Why do we find ruins and rites beautiful?”, Claire pondered. Tactile and fragile, things previously lost or discarded, to Claire are almost like orphaned objects, and she tried to put these “broken pieces” back together.
While living in the UK, Claire has taken pleasure absorbing all aspects of aesthetics in ballet theatres and scenic designs. The dreamy stage sets and costumes consoled her with a great sense of spiritual comfort during the covid pandemic years in which time she also had personal experience in a medical operating theatre. These latest works created between 2020 and 2023 propose an “aesthetic inquiry” in times of individual and collective anguish against the backdrop of global conflicts and personal insecurities.
Resulting from this intimate 3-year artistic and personal journey immersing herself in materials, the site-specific installation curated by the artist is composed of dioramas, objects, paintings and photo prints. There are also selected poems and prose written by Claire during the period which will flow through the ritualistic presentation.
The exhibition opening will be held on Sunday, 2 March 2024 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will be on view from 2 March until 30 March 2024. The artist will be present during the opening.
When: 2nd March - 30th March 2024
Image: Yrellag Gallery
13A Prince's Terrace, Central
ADVERT
Current Plans: Blackout Momentum
Yau Kwok Keung‘s debut exhibition “Blackout Momentum” in Hong Kong presents his extensive research on reframing mythological motifs and his unique aesthetic of chaos and balance. Drawing from his experience as a tattoo artist who sewed within human flesh, Yau presents a new series of meticulous paintings, videos, and mechanical sculptures that explore the theme of collective memory loss and societal trauma. Yau perceives amnesia as a state where one remains trapped for an extended period, with its relentless momentum frozen in darkness. Recurring motifs, including an illuminated sphere, a diving swallow and an expanding sea surface are juxtaposed to convey a sense of fragmented identities in an era of collective silence, where shared experiences are left unspoken. Whether a glimmer of hope or the last glow before destruction, Yau’s brush strokes unfold an elusive point of chaos—a paradoxical expression where the chaos depicted on the canvas becomes a two-way clue. Much like the iconic movie ”The Truman Show,“ where Truman’s routine quote carries emotional weight, serving as both a friendly greeting and an act of rebellion. It conforms to a controlled existence and yearns for authenticity at the same time.
When: 17th February - 16th March 2024
Image: courtesy Current Plans
3F, Remex Cetre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Hong Kong Arts Centre: Creators for Tomorrow
The CREATORS FOR TOMORROW initiative, launched by the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) in 2020, nurtures and supports emerging artists and curators in Hong Kong. It provides practical experiences in program planning, creation, and execution, helping participants launch their professional careers in the arts.
To ensure sustainable development, HKAC has initiated the group exhibition To Morrow and Beyond. It enhances exposure for the awardees of the 1st and 2nd editions, witnesses their growth in the art industry, and fosters knowledge exchange among participants.
Artist (In alphabetical order):
André Chan, Cheng Chi Chi, Dave Chow, Epical Chamber (Leung Ka Man，Ocean Leung), Avery Lau, Connie Lo, Tang Kwong San Winsome Wong, Yuen Nga Chi, Zoie Yung
When: 15th March - 31st March 2024
Image: Courtesy of Artspace K
Pao Galleries, 5/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Over the Influence: Inner Voyage Out
Lily Kemp's paintings explore the concept of movement, with a focus on changing landscapes, weather, and various forms of motion such as clouds, water, and fabric. Each painting utilizes a specific color palette, creating a visual cohesion and allowing for different stories and relationships to emerge within the collection as a whole.
On the other hand, Minyoung Kim's artworks primarily revolve around storytelling within intimate and interior spaces, such as palms, pockets, kitchens, dining tables, and the sea depths, evoking a sense of an unspecified home. The artist draws inspiration from dreams that involve exploring ambiguous internal spaces and past residences. By imagining intriguing scenarios within these domestic settings, Kim aims to evoke both familiarity and an eerie feeling through unexpected developments. The goal is to create a small world in each artwork, stirring emotions by blending personal experiences, and unlocking memories that may have been dormant in the past.
Together, these two artists invite the audience to experience a captivating duality where themes of movement, landscapes, and the familiarity of interior spaces merge to evoke emotions and memories.
When: 1st February -23rd March 2024
Image: courtesy Over the Influence
G/F – 2/F, 52 Wyndham Street
The Shophouse: Petrichor
THE SHOPHOUSE is pleased to present Petrichor, the first solo exhibition in Hong Kong by Chinese artist Dong Xiaochi (b.1993), currently works and lives in London, UK.
Drawing inspiration from artificial landscapes of different scales, including traditional Chinese gardens, botanical gardens, and miniature ecosystems. Dong explores diverse concepts related to simulating, imitating, and compressing nature.
His creative endeavours primarily encompass painting and mixed-media pieces. By creating images saturated with hints of light, humidity and atmosphere, Dong aims to give forms to contemporary images of nature. The influence of Chinese painting on Dong Xiaochi’s artwork is prevalent in his technique as well as the subject. In Petrichor, cloud motifs, bamboos and leaves, subjects with strong connotations of myths and symbols from Chinese culture are translated into nebulous and vague imagery. Like nature, Dong’s paintings present in constant flux and cease to settle in a definite form. The delicate ink brushstroke disperses through the surface, while upholding blank space to depict the stillness in the surrounding.
In front of the viewers, are trees and mountains whose forms blend with abstract ones in such a way that namable phenomena merge into abstract ones, thus opening up to the imagination.
When: 24th February - 17th March 2024
Image: courtesy The Shophouse
Comments