As part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, RAW was invited to view the American dance company Momix’s latest creation, Bothanica. Claire Johnson reviewed the show.Bothanica promises ‘a visual evocation of the four seasons’, with dancers recreating vibrant images of nature against a sparse backdrop. Creative Director, Moses Pendleton is one of America’s most widely performed choreographers and directors, creating ‘dancer-illusionists’ through light, shadow, props and the human body. The show was opened by a large piece of white material billowing across the stage floor, suddenly transformed by lights into a fast flowing river with emerging bodies. This really does set the tone for Pendleton’s show, visually effective yet sometimes a little baffling. The first act really capitalized on its extravagant props and effects, and at times it felt as though these were the real stars of the show. There were some choreographic highlights, namely a stunning solo piece set on a sloping mirrored platform and ‘Primavera’, displaying fluid, elegant partner work. The contrast of styles did make it feel a little disjointed at times, although I must admit my attention did not stray for one minute, so they must have been doing something right. The second act is when […]
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Last week, our blogger Claire attended the preview event for the Affordable Art Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Here’s what she thought of the evening. From young fashionistas to seasoned art-investors, there was a definite buzz in the exhibition space, divided into numerous mini galleries centered round the glowing Peroni bar. While the drinks were not free, there was still a healthy crowd mingling over ice-cold Peronis and the odd bottle of champagne. With 84 galleries on display, the compact layout made it easy to see everything on offer, although at times it did feel like you were trapped in a mind-boggling art maze, not sure if you’d already been this way or that. All part of the fun I think! Galleria Nicolas presented solely Filipino artists, including some endearing figure paintings featuring miniscule, lengthened necks. All of the paintings in this gallery’s collection showed a lovely sense of character and personality set against bold colors and backdrops. The UK gallery Bleach Box showcased a selection of modern photography on both small and large scales, including some very affordable limited edition prints. I particularly liked Richard Heeps’ primary colored American inspired images, and in contrast, the […]
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At the end of February we attended this year’s Asia Hotel Art Fair at the Mandarin Oriental. This unique event saw the luxury hotel open three floors of its guest rooms and suites to the public, transforming them into exhibition spaces for international artists. We really enjoyed this unique opportunity to view the pieces in the hotel surroundings, as well as chatting to artists and curators. There were also a number of special exhibitions, including ‘Master’s Sight’, featuring popular Korean artists and ‘Being in the Moment’, introducing new and upcoming art talents. By Claire Johnson
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This week the first Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong will open its doors at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Running from 15 – 17 March, this three day event will host an array of contemporary art at affordable prices. The event aims to create an inspiring, friendly atmosphere showcasing thousands of paintings, prints, sculptures and photography. Everything is priced between HKD $1,000 – HKD $100,000, with 75% of the pieces priced below HKD $75,000. There’ll be a selection of both emerging and well established artists, all pieces will be clearly labelled helping you to find the perfect artwork to meet your budget. Tickets are currently on sale and available through the Affordable Art Fair website. By Claire Johnson
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Running from 21st February to 22nd March, this annual arts extravaganza sees both local and international performers take to the Hong Kong stage in an array of performances including opera, drama and dance. Some of the highlights this year include the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet. There’s also the Arts Festival Plus programme, giving audiences the chance to interact with the performers through workshops, lectures and guided-tours. www.hk.artsfestival.org By Claire Johnson
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If you still haven’t seen this, there’s still time to catch the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, running until 31 March. The exhibition marks the 25th anniversary of Warhol’s death and is part of an Asia wide tour, heading next to Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo. The exhibition charts the artist’s evolving works from the 1950’s through to the 1980’s. There’s an extensive range of both well-known and rarely seen pieces, from the iconic pop art images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s Soup to the more unusual photo-booth series and Time Capsule exhibit. Film production was another significant aspect of Warhol’s career, with screenings of his avant-garde films also being shown at the exhibition and lecture hall. The Andy Warhol, 15 Minutes Eternal Exhibition is open from 16 December 2012 until 31 March 2013 at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. By Claire Johnson
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This week sees the opening of the ‘My Space’ exhibition, featuring two local artists, Wong Kai Kin and David Smith. Both artists work on a relatively small scale and show an interesting contrast in their artworks. Wong uses the compact canvas to focus on tightly constructed views of apartments, whereas Smith depicts expansive subjects with intimacy. The exhibition opens on Thursday 7th February at Amelia Johnson Contemporary. RAW will be at the opening to speak to the artists and bring you our favourite pieces from the collections. The ‘My Space’ exhibition runs from the 7 February to 1 March at the Amelia Johnson Contemporary. Amelia Johnson Contemporary, G/F, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong By Claire Johnson
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