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Press

2019-02-25

【The Hong Kong Arts Centre】
The 5th Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration
Traversing the diversity of Chinese contemporary art and collections

Venue: Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Date: 27 March – 22 April 2019

Organised byThe Hong Kong Arts Centre(HKAC), the 5th Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration will be held from 27 March to 22 April at the Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre. The exhibition explores distinctive collections and Chinese contemporary art archives for audiences to understand the development of China’s contemporary art scene over the years. Presenting the collections of three renowned collectors from China – Guan Yi, Lu Xun and Zheng Hao alongside archives from prominent scholars and curators Fei Dawei and Gao Minglu to explore the development of Chinese contemporary art, the exhibition unravels the diverse features and history of contemporary art and collections in China.

Ling Min, curator of this exhibition, is an associate professor in art history at Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. She has created a platform for the public viewing of contemporary art development in China. In recent decades, Chinese contemporary art has evolved in a multifaceted manner alongside the economic and social development in the region, and marched into several remarkable stages since the 1970s. The private art collection market in China has been growing disruptively. The phenomenon began with the rise of contemporary arts collection, hitherto, resulted in a vigorous growth in arts market in China.  The exhibition introduces the contributions and influences to the development of artists and arts industry by collectors.

“This exhibition outlines contemporary art in China from three different collector aspects through collections and archives. Due to the vast size of China, the art scene in different regions largely varies from each other and this 5th edition focuses primarily on private collections in the eastern and coastal areas to review the history of leading cities,” says Ling Min, curator of the 5th Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration.

The Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration has been hosted by the Hong Kong Arts Centre since 2013 and endeavours to explore the diversity and development of contemporary art collections, as well as encourage dialogue between art lovers through public viewings of private art collections. Embarking on its 5th edition, the exhibition diverts its spotlight to three collectors whose collections are all unique in genre and style, enabling audiences to experience multiple perspectives of Chinese contemporary art.

Guan Yi will present a selection from his collection including “Today No Water 1/5” (1985) [2005 edition], a large-character poster created by Wu Shanzhuan, and Zhong Ming’s art piece “He is Himself—Sartre” (1980), which has stirred controversy from the art scene on two issues - “Should artists have their own personalities?” and the topic of “self-expression”.

Lu Xun will introduce the architectural project for “Sifang Art Museum” (2013) designed by celebrated American architect, Steven Holl which highlights the intricate process of close cooperation between collectors, artists and architects. Photo documentation of “Movement Field” (2016), the permanent resident artwork at Sifang Art Museum by Xu Zhen from his series of works starting in 2013 will also be presented, showcasing works that incorporate green turf forming irregular and intertwined routes. “Your Future's Bleak, You're So Last Week.” (2014) by Hong Kong artist Lee Kit will also be exhibited.

Zheng Hao has collected over 300 pieces of artwork created by German conceptual artist, Joseph Beuys. This exhibition marks the first presentation of Beuys’s work at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, including the renowned “White Rabbit” (1979), and the well-known photography work “We Are the Revolution” (1972) which showcases the big step forward Beuys took in his work hinting on his artistic life and determination to devote himself to society.

Gao Minglu will present the archives from the exhibition China/Avant-Garde (1989). The exhibition was the first avant-garde contemporary art exhibition to be held in China Art Gallery.  It focused on experimental art, which presented contemporary art practices from all around the country.

Fei Dawei will introduce the archives from Chine Demain pour Hier (1990, France) and Exceptional Passage (1991, Japan), the two exhibitions he curated in early 90’s. The archives present the state of the early oversea exhibitions by Chinese contemporary artists, which mark the important moment of showcasing Chinese contemporary art in the international art scene at the time.

“The Annual Collector’s Contemporary Collaboration fosters partnerships between collectors and the Hong Kong Arts Centre, and provides audiences the opportunity to explore the roles collectors have in Asia and further understand their contributions to the art scene and the development of artists through their personal collections. It also provides an opportunity for the public to trace the history and development of a city," says Connie Lam, Executive Director of the HKAC.

A series of public programmes will also be held during the exhibition, including lectures, screenings, and guided tours. Details will be announced shortly.

Venue: Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Date: 27 March – 22 April 2019
Time: Monday to Sunday, 10am – 8pm
Programme Enquiries: 2582 0200/hkac@hkac.org.hk
Free Admission

Screening session co-presented by HKAC and Goethe-Institut Hongkong: Beuys
Date: 30 March 2019 (Saturday)
Time: 4pm
Venue: Black Box Studio, Goethe-Institut Hongkong
Director: Andres Veiel
Length: 107 minutes
Remarks: In German and English with English subtitles

High-resolution images can be downloaded here:
Link: http://gallery.sinclaircomms.com/
Password: talkofthetown

Images:

Guan Yi

 Wu Shan Zhuan_Today No Water 15_1985  Zhong Ming_He is Himself-Sartre_1980

Wu Shan Zhuan
Today No Water 1/5
1985 (2005 edition)
Acrylic on canvas
Photo courtesy of the artwork collector Guan Yi

Zhong Ming
He is Himself - Sartre
1980
Oil on canvas
Photo courtesy of the artwork collector Guan Yi

Zheng Hao

 We Are The Revolution  White Rabbit

Joseph Beuys
We Are The Revolution
1972
Print on polyester sheet
Photo courtesy of the How Art Museum

Joseph Beuys
White Rabbit
1979
Silkscreen print on filing card
Photo courtesy of the How Art Museum

Lu Xun

Xu Zhen_Movement Field_2016  Lee Kit_Your Futures Bleak, Youre So Last Week._2014_r

Xu Zhen
Movement Field
2016
Photo documentation of installation
Photo courtesy of the Sifang Art Museum

Lee Kit
Your Future's Bleak, You're So Last Week.
2014
Print on paper
Photo courtesy of the Sifang Art Museum


Media Contacts:
For more information, please contact Sinclair at (852) 2915 1234:
Sheriza Wadhwani        | sheriza@sinclaircomms.com    | (852) 9128 8151
Vivian Tsang                 | vivian@sinclaircomms.com      | (852) 9509 0023

About Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) - The relevant destination for arts and creative inspirations in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Arts Centre is a multi-arts centre that fosters artistic exchanges locally and internationally, bringing the most forward creations to Hong Kong and showcasing home grown talents abroad. The HKAC stimulates innovation and promotes creativity. Being Hong Kong’s only independent non-profit multi-arts institution, the HKAC offers exhibitions, screenings and performances, connecting the arts of Hong Kong to the rest of the world through programmes and collaborations. Come to the HKAC to experience, appreciate, learn and be inspired by arts.
http://hkac.org.hk  

About Curator
Professor Ling Min is an associate professor in art history and tutor of graduate students in modern and contemporary art history at Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. She also served as research scholar in art curation at Goldsmiths, University of London, visiting lecturer in art curation at Liverpool John Moores University, and participated in leadership placement for Liverpool Biennial.

About Collectors
Guan Yi, born in 1966 in Qingdao, began his involvement with Chinese avant-garde literary and artistic scenes in the 1980s, he was deeply influenced by the "85 New Wave" which leads him towards art and began collecting Chinese contemporary art in 2000. His collection has grew to more than 2500 pieces up until now. He has been dedicated on collecting and sorting documentation of the “85 New Wave”, with the attempt on establishing a professional archive of the Chinese conceptual art development through collection of contemporary Chinese art. In 2004, he opened the Guan Yi Contemporary Art Archive in Beijing to display and research on his collection. He participated as a speaker for Art Basel in 2005 and was selected as “Power 2008” top 10 in Art + Auction (US) in 2008. In 2014, he has donated 37 significant Chinese contemporary artworks, including the major pieces from “Canton Express” exhibition to M+ of Hong Kong. Guan Yi currently resides in Shanghai.

Lu Xun lives and works in Nanjing. He is a collector of contemporary Chinese and international art. In 2013, he founded the new Sifang Art Museum. He worked closely with architects and artists to plan and commission more than 40 buildings and art installations in the Sifang Collective. Lu has been selected for "The World's Top 100 Art Collectors" by artnet. He is currently a board member of Acquisition Committee of the Tate Modern and a founding member of Delfina Foundation's Asia Pacific Committee.

Zheng Hao, a cultural entrepreneur, he is committed to building an art complex integrating with art, design, technology and education. In 2013, he established How Art Museum in Wenzhou, creating a new design cross-border integration platform which facilitates cross-fields exchanges and cooperation. He continues to present public education and outdoor art projects to the public, leading a new lifestyle which integrates art, design and technology.

Fei Dawei, born in 1954, is a first generation curator and art critic in China. Fei studied art history, and later lectured at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing. In the beginning of his career, he has participated in the curatorial of Les Magiciens de la Terre at the Centre Georges Pompidou in France and China/Avant-Garde Art Exhibition in China in 1989. Fei participated in cultural exchange programmes, international symposiums, and academic presentations, and academic committee of different museums. He curated several large-scale contemporary Chinese art exhibitions overseas, including Chine Demain pour Hier (France) in 1990; Exceptional Passage (Japan) in 1991; and Le Moine et le Démon (Lyon) in 2004. In October 2002, FEI was appointed the director of The Guy & Myriam Ullens Foundation. He was the founding director of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing and also curated ’85 New Wave retrospective exhibition.

Gao Minglu, born in 1949, Tianjin, is a research professor in the Department of Art History and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1978, he was admitted to the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, received his master’s degree from the Chinese National Academy of Arts and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Committee on Scholarly Communication with China through the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991. He then studied art history at The Ohio State University and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. From 1984 to 1990, GAO served as editor of Art magazine and assisted in the editorial work of Fine Arts in China. During this period, he engaged in a wide range of writing and curatorial projects relating to the development of experimental art in China, and especially curating '85 Youth Art Movement Large-scale Slide Show and Academic Symposium (Zhuhai Conference, 1986) and China/Avant-Garde Art Exhibition in 1989, to promoting the ’85 New Wave Art movement.