The HKAC 40th Anniversary flagship exhibition Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense
Venue: Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre (4/F and 5/F)
Date: 2018.09.30 - 2018.11.04
Time: 10am – 8pm
Price: Free Admission
Culminating in its 40th year celebrations,【The Hong Kong Arts Centre】(HKAC) is delighted to present Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense, an exhibition that explores and celebrates Hong Kong’s cultural and artistic identity as seen through the lens of one of Hong Kong’s most iconic city districts, Wan Chai. Curated by guest curator Valerie C. Doran and the HKAC curatorial team, the exhibition will be held at Pao Galleries, HKAC from Sunday 30 September to Sunday 4 November 2018.
“Since its foundation 40 years ago, the Hong Kong Arts Centre has fostered artistic exchange, forging connections between the arts of Hong Kong and the rest of the world through a wide range of programmes and collaborations. Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense is both a continuation and celebration of that heritage, and presents a new perspective that forms urban cultural identities,” says Connie Lam, Executive Director of the HKAC.
Hong Kong has been uniquely shaped by a crucible of economic, political, ethnic and cultural influences, resulting in a vastly diverse heritage and identity, which is in turn made up of and influenced by the localised personalities of distinct districts within the city. The exhibiting works in Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense look at the bonds formed across generations, multiple languages and artistic genres that establish community and a love of place. The exhibition has been curated to examine personal, historical, and experiential responses to Wan Chai and features works by 18 artists local to Hong Kong, or intricately connected through international ties to the city. The exhibited works also explore the role Wan Chai plays in forming Hong Kong’s artistic identity, and its image in the eyes of both local and international audiences.
“Though varied in their responses, each of the artists presented in Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense shares an interest in the idea of place and how this is formed by individual interactions, past, present and future. The dialogue generated between the works opens doors to a new, more layered understanding of Wan Chai as a historical space, a cultural hub and a centre for community engagement,” Says Valerie C. Doran, exhibition guest curator.
During the exhibition period, Thematic tours around Wan Chai will be arranged and will narrate the history of the area, illustrating connections between the district and the artworks presented in Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense. Art Experience Workshops will shed new light on the district’s past, present and future, as well as the history of the HKAC as a cultural hub that has consistently over 40 years generated artistic dialogue. Programming will also include a Film Showcase on Wan Chai for audiences to experience the district's charm in a cinematic dimension. Creators and artists who are fans of these films will also talk about how their works have been influenced by Wan Chai.
Guest Curator: Valerie C. Doran (Hong Kong; b. USA)
Featured Artists: Gaylord Chan (Hong Kong), Luis Chan (Hong Kong; b. Panama), Choi Yan Chi (Hong Kong), Chu Hing Wah (Hong Kong; b. Guangdong), Mark Chung (Hong Kong; b. New Zealand), Xyza Cruz Bacani (Hong Kong; b. The Philippines), Ho Sin Tung (Hong Kong), South Ho Siu Nam (Hong Kong), Phoebe Hui (Hong Kong), Firenze Lai (Hong Kong), Jaffa Lam (Hong Kong; b. Fujian), Leung Mee Ping (Hong Kong), MAP Office (Laurent Gutierrez and Valerie Portefaix, Hong Kong; b. France), Cédric Maridet (Hong Kong; b. France), N. S. Harsha (India), Frank Tang Kai Yiu (Hong Kong), Yeung Tong Lung (Hong Kong; b. Fujian), Trevor Yeung (Hong Kong; b. Guangdong)
