Guided Viewing: 3 Exhibitions at the Hong Kong Design Institute With Curator Joy Wang

The Executive Committee is pleased to organise a guided tour of three exhibitions presented by Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) Gallery. HKDI is a leading design education institution in Hong Kong, offering excellent learning opportunities to keep pace with the growing demand of the creative industries. Themed as the White Sheet, the campus design from French architects Coldéfy & Associés, was the award-winning project in the HKDI International Architectural Design Competition in 2006/2007. We will start the tour with a showcase for Swiss accessory and watch, follow with a silk exhibition and end with an exhibition about design and technology. Our tour will be led by Joy Wang, Curator of HKDI Gallery.

1. “Swiss Accessory and Watch Design by HEAD – Genève”
This exhibition showcases over 100 pieces of designs by students of Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève), one of the major institutions of art and design education in Europe. It demonstrates the latest innovations in jewellery, watch and accessory designs from Switzerland. Highlighting not only the renowned Swiss techniques of precision but also craftsmanship instilled by mentors in the field, via collaborations with worldrenowned watch and accessory brands such as Baume & Mercier and Piaget.

2. “In Praise of Silk: Fashion from China National Silk Museum Across Time”
The exhibition is a tribute to “mulberry silk”, the fibre that made China famous since historical times. Presented by HKDI’s Department of Fashion and Image Design, in collaboration with the China National Silk Museum, one of the largest textile museums in the world, this fascinating display provides an insightful journey through the millennialong evolution of China’s silk culture and its global impact. Exhibits range from ancient Chinese silkwork designs to contemporary fashion, weaving looms, animations, photographs, and more.

3. “Homo Ex Data – The Natural of the Artificial”
As robots, drones, and virtual reality enter our smart homes, technology has gradually built within us a second nature, an artificial one. But how natural can an artificial, technology-driven world be? To answer such a philosophical question, the Red Dot Design Museum will showcase a variety of Red Dot Awardwinning products in an exhibition that demonstrates how well-designed technology has become a “new, second nature” to modern human beings, so much so that our daily life and global society can no longer survive without these technologies.

Resource Person
Joy Wang is currently Curator of Hong Kong Design Institute & Institute of Vocation Education (Lee Wai Lee), overseeing international exhibitions under the brand HKDI Gallery Presents, including most recently “Konstantin Grcic – Panorama” with Vitra Design Museum; “Rafael Moneo: A Theoretical Reflection from the Professional Practice. Archive Materials (1961-2013)” with Fundación Barrié and “Homo Ex Data –The Natural of the Artificial” with Red Dot Design Museum. She directs the curatorial and event services teams in the creation of large-scale art and design exhibitions and educational events. Previously, she worked at the British Council Hong Kong (Arts and Creative Industries); the Hong Kong Arts Festival; and the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association.

Heritage Walk: From Yau Ma Tei to Sham Shui Po With Cheng Po Hung 鄭寶鴻

Cheng Po Hung, UMAG honorary advisor and renowned Hong Kong historian will take us to the districts of Yau Ma Tei to Sham Shui Po, walking through the old Kowloon historic sites and scenic spots. We will pass through Kowloon King George V Memorial Park, Kwun Chung Battery, Majestic Cinema, Kwong Chi, Astor and Alhambra Theatre, Yung Shue Tau Square, Tin Hau Temple, Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Wholesale Fruit Market, Orient Tobacco Manufactory, Ming Yuen Amusement Park, Victoria Theatre, Broadway Cinematheque, Royal Theatre, Empress Theatre, Prince’s Theatre, Great World and Good World Theatre, Mu Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po Village and Sham Shui Po Police Station.

Route:
Jordan Road > Nathan Road > Public Square Street > Shanghai Street > Reclamation Street > Soy Street > Nathan Road > Lai Chi Kok Road > Boundary Street > Pei Ho Street > Yen Chow Street

* Walk itinerary subject to change

漫遊油麻地至深水埗
多年來,香港大學美術博物館名譽顧問、著名香港歷史學家鄭寶鴻先生曾替我們導覽港島東區、油尖旺區等。這次,鄭先生將會帶領我們探索油麻地至深水埗一帶,與大家一起回溯這個地區的起源及發展。

沿途的舊建築及遺跡︰
佐治五世公園、舊砲台山、大華、廣智、普慶及平安戲院、榕樹頭廣場、天后廟、舊差館、果欄、東方煙廠、明園及天虹遊樂場、域多利戲院、百老匯戲院、麗聲、凱聲、東樂、大世界及好世界戲院、武帝廟、深水埗村、深水埗警署

路線︰佐敦道>彌敦道>眾坊街>上海街>新填地街>豉油街>彌敦道>荔枝角道>界限街>北河街>欽州街

Find out more about Sham Shui Po

深水埗原是材料集中地,工業北移多年以來,老字號陸續遷出,尤其是大南街,近幾年出現不少吉舖,同時又有新店進駐。就在同一段街,有結合咖啡店、書店、展覽空間及自造者空間的common room & co.;過五個舖位,就是以藝文界茶餐廳定位的合舍;再過三個舖位,還有壹屋計劃的限時社區商店。嶄新的構思同意念,透過策劃,連結,無形中滲透在一間店舖,一條街道,一個社區。

– 《大南街的日與夜》,《設計日常》,RTHK 31
http://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/everydaydesign/episode/467006 

Guided Viewing: Christie’s Autumn Auctions With Rosemary Scott and Pola Antebi

Christie’s is delighted to invite the members of the University of Hong Kong Museum Society to a private guided tour of the Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art in the forthcoming Hong Kong Autumn Auctions. This will include a viewing of works from the celebrated Le Cong Tang collection of Ming dynasty ceramics, highlights of which include the magnificent Wucai Fish Jar and Cover, produced during the Jiajing reign, a Xuande Yellow-Enamelled Bowl, and the Tixi Lacquer Hexagonal Ewer.

The guided tour will be given by Rosemary Scott (International Academic Director to Christie’s Asian Art Departments) and Pola Antebi (International Director, Chinese Works of Art).

Resource Persons
Rosemary Scott joined Christie’s in 1997 and in 2006 was appointed International Academic Director to Christie’s Asian Art Departments. In 2017 she changed to a part-time role as Senior International Academic Consultant to Christie’s Asian Art departments.

Ms Scott was formerly the Head of the Museums Department at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and was responsible for the university’s Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art and for the Brunei Gallery.

After completing a degree in Chinese Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Ms. Scott undertook postgraduate research into early Chinese lacquer and its relationship to other materials, particularly textiles and inlaid bronze. In 1979, she joined the Burrell Collection in Glasgow as an Assistant Keeper with curatorial responsibility for Oriental works of art and was appointed Deputy Keeper of the entire collection in 1980. In December 1983, Ms. Scott took up the post of curator of the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and in January 1995 she became the first Head of the SOAS new Museums Department.

Ms. Scott has researched and written numerous books and articles on subjects related to Chinese ceramics and decorative arts, and has also presented papers at many international conferences, in addition to organizing and editing the proceedings of several such conferences in the UK. She has travelled widely in East Asia, America and Europe, lecturing and undertaking research. She served as President of the Oriental Ceramic Society 2006-2009.

With nearly 30 years of experience in field, 24 of which have been at Christie’s, Pola Antebi has made substantial contributions to Christie’s and to the field of Chinese ceramics and works of art, helping to secure Christie’s position as the premier auction house for the sale of the finest imperial Chinese works of art. As one of the first employees of Christie’s Hong Kong, when it opened its doors in 1986, Ms. Antebi has witnessed first-hand the remarkable development of not only Chinese art and auctions in Asia, but played a crucial role in expanding Christie’s footprint in Asia, which today include 11 offices around the region. She was appointed Head of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art department in 1999, a position she held for 13 years, and established Christie’s Hong Kong as the auction house of choice for collectors of Chinese works of art, with sales totals in her category growing from US$11 million in 1998 to a record total of US$233 million in 2010. In 2012 she was promoted to International Director for the Chinese Works of Art department and is responsible for sourcing, marketing and promoting works for sales Hong Kong, New York, London and Paris. With expertise in Imperial ceramics, jades and works of art from the Yuan to the Qing Dynasties (14th-19th Centuries), Ms. Antebi travels extensively and conducts appraisals and consults for an extensive network of institutions and private collectors. Ms. Antebi holds degrees in Art History and French Literature from the University of Vermont in the United States.

A Culinary & Cultural Weekend to Shunde 順德

HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a fundraising trip for our 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund to Shunde, one of the cradles of Cantonese cuisine. Situated at the core of the Pearl River Delta, with Guangzhou to the north and Hong Kong to the south, Shunde’s outstanding natural environment, lively cultural scene, prosperous economy and renowned culinary arts academies provide particularly favorable conditions for the development of a gastronomic culture and industry. In 2014, Shunde joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as the city of gastronomy.

Apart from enjoying different restaurants that offer unique taste of Cantonese cuisine, we will also explore the Lingnan culture (嶺南文化) through the visits to cultural and natural heritages in Shunde. Members will be welcomed as special guests to a private tour at Fung Shui (風水) master Choi Park-Lai’s ancestral home.

Guided Viewing: The Best of the Best The MQJ Collection of Ming Furniture

The Executive Committee is pleased to organise this guided tour of an exhibition of the private collection of the world’s foremost expert in and leading dealer of Ming furniture, Grace Wu Bruce.

Formed over the past 30 years and little known to the public, The MQJ Collection, short for Muquju ('Lodge of Wood Delights'), comprises more than 100 pieces (sets) of museum-grade Ming furniture of all major types, mainly made of huanghuali and zitan. The collection spans 11 categories, from tables and chairs to incense stands and beds, all beautifully designed, superbly crafted and in excellent condition. Among them are rare surviving examples of their kind which are being unveiled to the market for the very first time.

Resource Person

The tour will be led by Julian King, Director, International Specialist of the Chinese Works of Art Department in Hong Kong. Julian King joined Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2013 as International Specialist in the Chinese Works of Art department, with responsibility for supporting global sales of Chinese Works of Art focusing on sourcing and selling.

Mr. King began his career in the art industry working as a cataloguer of ceramics and works of art in Sotheby’s London from 2000 to 2004, where he trained under Julian Thompson, the late Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia. After a career change, he returned to the Chinese art world at an auction house in London before relocating to Hong Kong to head their Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art department between 2008 and 2013. In addition to a focus on Chinese porcelain, Mr. King is particularly specialised in Qing dynasty works of art, and has handled a number of prominent collections in the past decade, including Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection (2010-2015), Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich Hausmann (October 2014) and The Robert H. Blumenfield Collection of Chinese Bamboo Carvings (April 2015). Mr. King also has a deep interest in Tibetan art and supports the Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art sales in New York.

Mr. King graduated from Wadham College, Oxford University, with a Masters in Classical and Modern Chinese.

An evening talk on Zao Wou-Ki and his contemporaries with Catherine Kwai, founder of Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery Hong Kong

The talk will focus on Zao Wou-Ki and his contemporaries, entitled “Infinities – the Art of Zao Wou-Ki”. Catherine will be attending the opening of the Zao Wou-Ki exhibition at the Asia Museum of Modern Art in Taichung, She will share with us her insight and "highlights of the exhibition".

To those who may not be joining our Taichung Trip, this talk may spark your interest to a weekend in Taichung to view this important exhibition!

Joint UMAG Programme – A morning at the opera with Dr. Giorgio Biancorosso

The second of the four "music dramas" that make up the Ring of the Nibelung, Die Walkure weaves utterly compelling music around the haunting story of the Valkyries. As in the Norse sagas on which Wagner drew for his text, in the Ring the Valkyries are "angels of life and death." Their intervention in the life of the all-too-human heroes of Wagner's epic is shocking and all-encompassing. But their main claim to glory lies in their role in the life of the cycle's central character, and subject of its third segment: Siegfried. In this lecture, Biancorosso will introduce to the audience to the difference between "music drama" and "standard" opera and retell the endless fascinating story of how Die Walkure got written.
Opera lovers and Wagner Fans are most welcome!

Resource Person:
Dr. Giorgio Biancorosso Associate Professor in Music, and the Director of the Society of fellows in the Arts and Humanities, The University of Hong Kong. Biancorosso studied music and film studies at the University of Rome and King's College London, before moving to Princeton University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in musicology in 2002.
He is the author of Situated Listening: The Sound of Absorption in Classical Cinema (Oxford University Press. 2016) as well as a number of studies on film music and opera. Biancorosso is also active in Hong Kong as a music programmer and curator.

Heritage Visit- Wanchai Ghostbusting Exploration Tour with Dr. Lee Ho Yin 灣仔捉鬼敢死文物探險團 – 與李浩然 博士

Ghostbusting Guide 捉鬼敢死導賞團長:
The Fearless Dr. Lee Ho Yin, former army sergeant and Head of the HKU Division of Architectural Conservation Programmes (ACP)
「正氣」李浩然 博士
香港大學 建築保育學部 主任
前陸軍軍曹

Description 簡介:
Not for the faint-hearted – join at your own peril! This guided tour takes you – at night – to the old areas of the Wanchai district to explore various reputedly haunted grounds. Through the tour, you will discover the circumstances behind the terrifying stories and urban legends, from which you will learn more about the history and heritage of Wanchai. Please bring your own torch and amulet.

奉學會喻,非胆生毛者請勿參加此行,否則後果自負。此行將帶你夜闖灣仔舊區的多處恐怖迷離境界,識破毛骨悚然的傳聞,發掘故事背後的真相,從而認識多些關於灣仔的史蹟。參與者敬請自備手電筒與護身符。

Language 講述語言:
Cantonese, with English for non-Cantonese speakers if necessary. 人言鬼話,雙語齊下。

Venice Biennale and the Villas of Veneto, between Contemporary Art and Palladianism

HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a fundraising trip for our 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund.

This tour has been tailored for The University of Hong Kong Museum Society, a private and exclusive journey for an unforgettable experience.

Participants will start their journey in Venice to attend the 57th edition of the Biennale and to discover the hidden gems of the lagoon and the traditions of Venice and its canals.

After a few days in the magic of Venice, guests will visit the surroundings of the Veneto region, having the theme Palladio and his majestic influence on the art and architecture of the region in the 16th century.

Heritage Visit to HK Wetland Park with Professor Raymond Fung

We are privileged to organise a guided tour of the Hong Kong Wetland Park with renowned architect and ink painter Professor Raymond Fung. The HK Wetland Park was originally intended to be an ecological mitigation area. It was developed into the HK Wetland Park, a world-class facility for conservation, education and tourism and features some of the city’s unique flora and fauna. It has received many awards for its architectural and landscape design. Themed exhibition galleries showcase the importance of wetlands on biodiversity, civilisation and conservation. The specially designed habitats are home to an impressive cast of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

Resource Person
Professor Raymond Fung (JP, FHKIA) was the main designer of the HK Wetland Park. As a renowned architect, designer and ink painter, he has won the Hong Kong 10 Outstanding Young Person’s Award and the Hong Kong 10 Outstanding Designer’s Award. He has also won 5 HKIA Annual Awards plus over 50 major design and arts prizes locally and abroad. In Ink Art, Fung’s works have been selected in the National Art Exhibition and HK Art Biennale, and largely collected by museums and international corporations. In 2009, he was awarded the Secretary for Home Affairs’ Certificate of Commendation for Art Promotion. Professor Fung is now the Adjunct Professor of the School of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong and committee members to many advisory panels in HK. Apart from his book “The Art of Raymond Fung”, he is also a co-author of five books on architecture and culture.