Category: Local

A special home visit with Chris Hall, an established textile collector, is scheduled for this month. Chris first arrived in Hong Kong when his father was appointed assistant bursar of The University of Hong Kong in 1955. He studied History at Cambridge University and has worked in Hong Kong as a CPA specializing in tax accounting for many years. For over twenty years, Chris has also traveled the world in the pursuit of antique Chinese textiles. With discerning eyes and deep passion, he has assembled a major collection of rare and exquisite Chinese textiles, some dating from 500 B.C. He has also written a very comprehensive book on the topic. The Chris Hall Collection is world-renowned and has been exhibited at major museums worldwide.

Hall’s apartment is filled with Asian and European antiques and art objects that reflect his love and appreciation of colours and antiquities from different cultures. During our visit, he will show us the specially designed room built to control the humidity, light and temperature for the optimum storage of these fragile antique textiles in order to preserve them for posterity. We shall also see how he ingeniously and tastefully gives new life to his antique furniture by putting them to practical use in a modern international lifestyle.

Among the artists in Hong Kong, Chu Hing Wah held a unique position as a psychiatric nurse in the Castle Peak Psychiatric Hospital and the Siu Lam Hospital for the Mentally Handicapped until his retirement eight years ago. Twenty five years of work in this specialized field has given Chu the rare opportunity to observe the primal and sensitive instincts of human nature.

Born in 1935 in Guangdong, China, Chu received his degree in Psychiatric Nursing from London’s Maudsley Hospital in 1965. Simultaneous to his work in the psychiatric field, he completed a certificate course in art and design at the Extramural Studies of The University of Hong Kong from 1972 to 1974. He became a member of the Visual Arts Society in 1974, and the Hong Kong Sculptors Association in 1982 and was Chairman of the Visual Arts Society from 1983 to 1986.

Since his retirement in 1992, Chu has become a full-time painter and sculptor exhibiting widely throughout Asia. He received the Urban Council Fine Arts Award in 1989 and was selected as “Painter of the Year” by Hong Kong Artists’ Guild in 1992 and in 1994, was awarded a scholarship for art research in New York by the Asian Cultural Council. He is currently Honorary Advisor to the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

In conjunction with a guided tour of his works currently on exhibit at UMAG, Chu will share a slide and video presentation about his life and art. Chu also encourages each participant to pose him a question for an interesting and interactive session.

This talk will consider the celebrated style of Japanese art known as Rinpa (or Rimpa) taken by many as one of the most representative of the Edo Period (1603-1868). The themes are various, but depictions of the old court classics are to the fore. Other schools were already painting those themes. How did Rinpa differ, and what were the political and aesthetic reasons for that difference?

Guest speaker, Professor Timon Screech was born in Birmingham, UK, and received a BA (Hons.) in Oriental Studies (Japanese) at Oxford, before completing his Ph.D at Harvard in 1991. He also studied at the universities of Geneva and Gakushuin. He has taught the history of Japanese art at SOAS, University of London, since 1991, and in 2006 was elected to Chair in the History of Art. He is concurrently Permanent Visiting Professor at Tama Art University, Tokyo.

Screech is the author of some ten books on the visual culture of the Edo period. His Ph.D was published as "The Lens Within the Heart: the Western Scientific Gaze and Popular Imagery in Later Edo Japan" (CUP 1996) and is still in print in a second edition (Curzon, 2002). Perhaps his best-known work is "Sex and the Floating World: Erotic Imagery in Japan, 1720-1810" (Reaktion, 1999; second, expanded edition, 2009). Most recently, he has introduced and edited the writings of two 18th century travellers to Japan, "Japan Extolled and Decried: Carl Peter Thunberg and Japan, 1775-1796" (Routledge, 2005), and "Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns. Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822" (Routledge, 2006). His writings have been translated into French, Japanese, Korean, Polish and Romanian.

Once again, our patron Mrs. Ellen Tsui extends her warm hospitality to members to celebrate arts and friendship with afternoon tea at her residence. Designed in the art-deco style, University Lodge was built in 1949 and has since housed seven Vice-Chancellors of The University of Hong Kong. Nestled among lush greens, the home will offer a rare opportunity for members and their friends to enjoy the elegant architecture of Hong Kong’s colonial era.

Our guest speaker and long-standing member, Cornelia “Nelly” Lichauco Fung will share snippets from her recent book Beneath the Banyan Tree chronicling her multi-cultural family’s interesting history and its role in the development of the Philippine nation. Her story begins during the Spanish colonial period with the coming of a Chinese ancestor, Tomas Lichauco, from Fujian Province in the 19th century. After four generations, Nelly has come “full circle” returning to her Chinese roots through her marriage to Kenneth Hing Cheung Fung, son of the late Sir Kenneth Fung.

What would a party be without music and dance, especially on a Saturday afternoon? Benny Inot and his quartet will be on hand to perform a variety of music that reflects the multi-cultural ethnicity of our members. And our university students will demonstrate and lead guests on the “Tinikling” dance.

A tea buffet featuring Filipino Lechong Baboy, suckling pig slowly roasted on an open pit, will be served. Do invite a friend or two to join this year’s membership drive for an afternoon of art and culture and a celebration of friendship among members of the Museum Society!

“ FULL CIRCLE – A RETURN TO CHINESE ROOTS”
A HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES THROUGH THE LIVES OF FOUR GENERATIONS AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH HONG KONG

Cornelia “Nelly” Lichauco Fung is uniquely well placed to present her family’s story and its involvement in the Philippine history through four generations. Her forebearers played a significant and fascinating role at each stage in the creation of the Philippine nation.

The story begins during the Spanish colonial period, with the coming of a Chinese ancestor, Tomas Lichauco from Fujian Province in the early 19th century. The second generation brought her Spanish antecedent from Galicia. The tale continues through the Philippine Revolution and her grandfather’s exile to Hong Kong; the Spanish-American war and the violent struggle and pacification by the Americans and through the gradual evolution of the nation’s democratic structure. Her multi-cultural heritage was enriched with her father’s marriage to her Cuban-American mother. The country’s road to independence was violently disrupted by the Second World War before the achievement of independence. Nelly Fung describes the increasingly important role of the Chinese mestizo in the economic, social and political development of the nation and the role of her father, Marcial Lichauco, a member of the two official independence missions to the United States and later as Ambassador to Britain and Scandinavia. After four generations, Nelly came “full circle” returning to her Chinese roots by marrying Kenneth Hing Cheung Fung, son of the late Sir Kenneth Fung.

Guest speaker
Cornelia “Nelly” Lichauco Fung was born in the Philippines and educated at Maryknoll in Manila before proceeding to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Kent, England for pre-university studies. She graduated with a degree in History from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, and pursued post-graduate studies at the School of Education, at London University. Since 1967 Nelly Fung has lived in Hong Kong with her husband Kenneth Fung where she has been active in community work in the arts and in education. She was a founder and board member of the Chinese International School and the ISF Academy. She has recently authored a lavishly illustrated book, Beneath the Banyan Tree describing her multi-cultural family’s interesting history and its role in the development of the Philippine nation.

The Hong Kong Cemetery, established in 1845, is the oldest and best surviving example of a Western cemetery garden in Hong Kong. It captures the essence of the 19th century cemetery garden movement in Europe when cemeteries were designed to be both places of dignified memorial and quiet recreation. Comprising 10 hectares of rich woodland habitat with over 10,000 exquisitely carved granite and marble memorials set in terraces of lawn and a charming funeral chapel – Hong Kong’s oldest surviving colonial building, the Hong Kong Cemetery is perhaps one of Hong Kong’s most forgotten and undervalued natural and built heritage sites.

Guided by Dr. Ken Nicholson, the tour will explore the cultural landscape of the cemetery as it was originally intended, inspired by the words of John Loudon, the famous Scottish 19th century cemetery designer: "Churchyards and cemeteries are scenes not only calculated to improve the morals and the taste, and by their botanical riches to cultivate the intellect, but they also serve as historical records." The route will include visits to memorials of influential business people, military heroes, political activists, and the victim of a tiger attack, to name a few. Along the way, the symbolism of the plant species and funerary iconography will be explained and the conservation challenges facing this wonderful heritage site will be discussed.

The speaker
A landscape architect and architecture conservationist, Dr. Ken Nicholson has lived and worked in Hong Kong since 1984. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor to the Architecture Conservation Programme in the Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong. His doctorate, obtained in 2005, was HKU’s first Ph.D in heritage conservation and introduced a new approach to understanding and conserving heritage sites as cultural landscapes and not simply as isolated buildings divorced from their landscape context. The Hong Kong Cemetery was the case study that proved this approach to be effective and has become the subject of his book, "The Happy Valley: A History and Tour of the Hong Kong Cemetery", published in June 2010.

FINE ART ASIA 2010 was previously known as the Hong Kong International Art and Antiques Fair. Since its inception in 2006, the Fair has established a firm foundation as a premier annual event in the Asian art world presenting a unique combination of art and antiques. Back for its fifth year, this event will be held from 3-6 October 2010 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). In 2009, the Fair showcased 4,000 superb works of art exhibited by 60 leading Asian, European and American galleries. This year, Fine Art Asia 2010 will continue to present a wide range of collectible art items – from museum-quality ancient bronzes, to exotic Chinese ceramics and works of art, from rare furniture, textiles and jades, to exceptional modern and contemporary art.

The unique nature of FINE ART ASIA 2010 where the link between tradition and modernity can be seen and appreciated under one roof, continues to attract the enthusiastic participation of renowned international galleries. They include overseas antique specialists such as Rossi & Rossi (London, UK), Robert Hall (London, UK), Nicholas Grindley Works of Art (Suffolk, UK) and Marcus Flacks (New York, USA), as well as leading local antique dealers M & C Gallery, Ever Arts Gallery and Martin Fung Limited. Art galleries include Michael Goehuis (London, New York), Sundaram Tagore Gallery (New York, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong), Grotto Fine Art (Hong Kong), Galerie du Monde (Hong Kong), and art jeweler Wallace Chan (Hong Kong). For the latest update, please visit http://www.fineartasia.com.

Do join us for this guided tour to visit seven selected antique specialists and galleries to view some of the highlights of this Fair.

Have you ever wondered how the fragile shuan paper, commonly called “rice paper” used in Chinese ink painting and calligraphy can be mounted on silk so perfectly?

In the past, the Society has organized numerous demonstrations by ink painters who have magically created beautiful landscapes with the strokes of their brush. With this visit to Artline Chinese Arts Mounting Studio, we will follow the trail of such artworks to learn the mechanics needed to preserve their beauty and condition.

A mounting specialist is often a trained conservator who restores to its original form artworks that have been damaged with spots and holes from age or mold, insects and humidity.

The mounting of Chinese artworks is a highly specialized skill using techniques passed down from a master through generations in a family or taught to devoted apprentices. Chin Hok Hong and Shum Lai Kuen is the husband-and-wife team that operates Artline Chinese Arts Mounting Studio. Since their immigration to Hong Kong from Suzhou many years ago, they have mounted innumerous artworks in various forms and conditions. Their clients include auction houses, galleries, artists and collectors. Shum has also taught the skills of mounting at both HKU SPACE and the Extramural Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Chin and Shum will show us how they use their tools and materials and share with us the challenges they face in their profession. Along with advice on how to store and protect artworks, we may also be given the opportunity to try our hands on mounting.

In colloquial Cantonese, “working” equates to “finding food” based literally on the simple logic that we work to provide food for the family. Now with affluence, we go beyond basics in search of good eateries to bring family and friends. For our next culinary evening, we will venture to Kowloon City for a delectable dinner at Shantou Ting Hoi Lo Sze Restaurant(汕頭澄海老四)for a taste of authentic Chaosan(潮汕)cuisine.

Chaosan(潮汕)is a region in the northeastern area of Guangdong that stretches from Shanwei on the coast to the border of Fujian, and includes Chaozhou(潮州), Shantou (汕頭)and Jieyang(揭陽). Its rich culture includes colourful opera that dates back over 500 years, Gongfu tea(功夫茶), a strong and bittersweet Oolong brew served in tiny cups presented before and after dinner, and seafood that is light and fresh from the nearby coast.

Historically, Shantou has strong links to the outside world as it was opened up as a treaty port for foreign trade in 1869. During the Chinese Diaspora, many of its people migrated overseas to Southeast Asia and concentrated in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, thereby influencing the food of their new homeland.

Although Chaosan is situated in the Guangdong Province, its food bears much resemblance to the cuisine of its neighbor, Fujian. Seafood dishes such as steamed fish, cold crab, clam, prawn spring roll, oyster omelette and fishballs are well known. Equally popular are braised goose, rice noodle soup, Chaozhou congee, and taro and yam desserts.

Lee Ming(李明), the owner-cum-chef of Shantou Ting Hoi Lo Sze Restaurant and his wife originate from Chenghai(澄海), a district of Shantou. After leaving their hometown in the 1980s, they started anew in Hong Kong with $20. They have since built up a popular restaurant in Kowloon City famous for its braised goose and many Chaosan dishes that earned Lee Ming the nickname “King of Braised Goose”.

Do join us at Shantou Ting Hoi Lo Sze for authentic Chaoshan cuisine and meet the chef and his wife whose hard work and endurance exemplify the characteristics of Chaoshan people.

In conjunction with the Society’s trip to Seoul, Korea in October, we have invited both resource persons, Corrin Chan and Kathy Park to talk about the highlights as well as the cultural and historical background of the places that we will visit in Korea. We will see the modern face of Seoul in terms of her art and architecture, understand how the city looks at her past for inspiration to her future, and also appreciate how staying at the Buddhist temple quiets the soul to balance the fast and buzzling lifestyle of this modern city.

Hong Kong architect Corrin Chan, who graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at HKU, continued further studies at Columbia University in New York, where she obtained her Master of Architecture. A recipient of the Asian Cultural Council Grant and the Walter Gropius Medal, she has been responsible for organizing many architectural forums, exhibitions and competitions.

Design consultant and practicing Zen Buddhist Kathy Park started life in Turkey, where she might have been one of the few Korean babies born in Ankara that year. She has lived and traveled the world since, always keen to return to the land of her ancestors, while fully committed to share Korean art and culture with the rest of the world.

Do join this interesting lecture and discover the culturally diverse and fascinating facets of Korea.

Have you ever dreamed of creating and publishing your own book? Join the tour to Asia One Printing Limited to discover how a truly integrated communications company can help you fulfill this dream easily, from conception to completion, in this one-stop shop.

Founded in 1979 with 12 staff in an office-cum-factory space of 7000 square feet, Asia One has expanded and presently employs 300 staff in facilities that include a 14-storey building. It is one of the most active independent art publishers in Hong Kong with over 12 publications per year and is recognized highly as a top-notch printing and publishing company by both clients and peers. Asia One keenly supports visual arts in the community and is the sponsor of the Museum Society’s bi-monthly newsletter, MVSEnews, and annual reports for many years.

Peter Lau is the Managing Director of Asia One Communication Group that consists of nine subsidiary companies. He will give a brief overview of the individual businesses and demonstrate how each unit contributes to a successful publishing project. Peter will provide a short tour of the production facilities in the Asia One Tower and illustrate how the company’s standard publishing model helps clients fulfill their publishing dreams in Hong Kong.

Many members may be acquainted with Peter and his wife, Catherine, from past trips and activities. An avid photographer and sailor as well as a rare book and art collector, Peter will invite us to his office to see his collection of rare books, including some on photography and Chinese junks. We shall come to appreciate the quality and value of fine books. Afterward, there will be an option to enjoy lunch with Peter at Tapeo, a sumptuous Spanish restaurant nearby.