Category: Local

Chu Teh-Chun is a prolific Chinese painter who graduated from Hangzhou National Art College but has lived in France most of his life. His works combine the East and West, traditional and contemporary, the poetic graces and the emotive mysteries. At 90 years of age, Chu is highly respected in the international art arena and was awarded the honour of Academician by the Institut de France.

Chu is famous not only for his abstract paintings in oil on canvas and ink on paper, but also for his series of painted porcelains, Of Snow, Gold and Sky Blue. This series was inspired by a high mountain drive in winter and was subsequently produced at the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres near Paris between 2007-2009. The abstracted landscapes were expressed through dots and drips of pure white, along with scattered patches of colors in blue, grey, black, brown and gold on white luminous porcelains. These unique compositions encapsulate a vision that leads toward a philosophical path to the mind. The porcelains have been exhibited at the Guimet Asian Art Museum in Paris and Beijing’s National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) before coming to UMAG. We will be guided by international art consultant Philippe Koutouzis, who has curated major exhibitions at Musee Guimet, Taipei’s Fine Arts Museum, NAMOC and London’s Malborough Gallery. Philippe is a regular contributor to various art publications and a feature speaker for Sotheby’s and Christie’s. He is Managing Director of FEASTS projects in both Manhattan and Hong Kong and an advisor to a number of banks on art investments and art funds.

On Easter Sunday, we will have a chance to preview exhibits from Sotheby’s Hong Kong Spring Sales 2010 with Nicholas Chow and Denise Chu, specialists who will guide us through galleries featuring among others, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Contemporary Asian Art. This year’s sale will once again bring to the market exceptional treasures of high quality and provenance. Both Nicholas and Denise will educate and entertain us with stories about some of these special treasures before its auction. Participants are welcome to view the other galleries independently afterwards.

Nicholas Chow is the International Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. A key figure behind many successful theme sales focusing on Imperial works of art, he has brought to the market landmark collections such as the recent Legacies of Imperial Power – Qianlong Imperial Seals from The Estate of Emile Guimet (October 2008), Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metal Work – Ming and Qing Imperial Gold (April 2008), Important Chinese Art From the Collection of a Parisian Connoisseur (April 2007), and Visions of Enlightenment – The Speelman Collection of Important Early Ming Buddhist Bronzes (October 2006).

Denise Chu graduated from Wellesley College with a double major in Economics and Classical Civilizations followed with a Master’s degree from Stanford University majoring in East Asian Art History. Since then, she has been actively involved in the art world, with working experiences in many major cities including Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei, Tokyo, New York and Athens. Specifically, she has worked for Sotheby’s offices in New York as well as Hong Kong.

Do join us for a morning that promises to be enriching and enlightening.

As a lifestyle creator, Sin Sin observes the world through the eyes of art. She started her creative career in 1984 and opened her Atelier in Central, Hong Kong in 1998, which features unique bags in playful shapes, ladies wear crafted with exclusive fabrics, and jewellery in sterling silver and semi-precious stones. A special source of inspiration is her love for fabrics and unique antiquities. Her works are rooted in oriental values with often a mix of influences from the West.

Sin Sin is dedicated to creating a lifestyle where art inspires daily life, and vice versa. Based on this philosophy, Sin Sin opened her Fine Art Gallery to showcase international and local artists with an emphasis in Indonesian art, and at the same time to promote upcoming talents from Hong Kong, China, Southeast Asia, Europe and US. The main gallery is located at Princes Terrace, with an intimate exhibition space displaying modern and contemporary paintings, prints (etchings and lithographs), photographs and sculptures alongside a library of art and artist catalogues. Sin Sin Annex is a sister gallery with an alternative space showcasing objet d'art, art installations as well as performance art. With her spiritual attachment to Bali, Sin Sin has also built three exclusive villas there for visitors to experience first hand, her way of sensuous living.

During this morning's visit, Sin Sin will speak about her world of art and her passion for living. We will tour Sin Sin's Atelier and Annex, and the Sin Sin Fine Art Gallery to view and appreciate the eclectic collection of fashion, jewellery and artworks through the artistic eyes of its creative director.

Those who have visited UMAG's current exhibition of Hong Kong Lyric: Ink Paintings by Raymond Fung, would probably be fascinated by his mystical and charismatic ink landscapes that were designed with discipline and yet free in spirit. In this special demonstration, Fung will speak about his design concepts and show us various techniques he uses to achieve his style of modern ink painting. It will be followed by a private tour of his works for this exhibition.

Raymond Fung (???) began painting as a young man. After receiving his professional degree in architecture from Louisiana State University in the United States, he continued his art studies in the extra-mural programmes of The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. He combines traditional ink painting with a Western approach to colour and composition. His landscapes of Hong Kong are inspired from his training as an architect and his interest in the visual environment.

A renowned architect, designer and ink painter, Fung has won numerous awards including five Annual Awards of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Ten Outstanding Young Person's Award (HK), Ten Outstanding Designer's Award (HK), the Secretary of Home Affair's Certificate of Commendation, as well as fifty other major design prizes locally and abroad.

Fung was a founding member of the Ink Movement and is currently the Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Honorary Advisor to the museums of the Government's Leisure & Cultural Services Department, Member of West Kowloon Cultural District Development Committee, Revitalization of Historical Buildings Committee and ACABAS. He co-writes several books on architecture and culture and often expresses his views on the local press.

Described by the Wall Street Journal as a “Renaissance Woman”, Kai-Yin Lo is recognized not only as a jewellery designer of global renown, but also as an authority on Chinese culture, heritage, traditional and contemporary art. She is a recipient of the Silver Bauhinia Star from the SAR Hong Kong Government, and was awarded the “World’s Outstanding Designer, 2007” by the Hong Kong Design Centre for her contribution to the creative industries. Kai-Yin was honoured alongside Cartier in 2005 as one of three jewellers lauded for their “influence, style and excellence” in interpreting Chinese taste by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The annual Kai-Yin Lo Lecture at Asia Society, New York, is a recognized as an important platform for East/West cultural exchange.

A student of history at Cambridge and London Universities, Kai-Yin also attended Harvard Business School. She has edited four books ranging from Chinese white ceramics to furniture to architecture and the vernacular living environment. Her latest, “House, Home, Family: Living and Being Chinese”, is in the collection of over 400 libraries and is included as reading text in Asian study courses in 30 universities. From organizing the landmark one-man exhibition of artist Wu Guanzhong at the British Museum to curating the forthcoming presentation at the Shanghai Expo’s Hong Kong Design Pavilion in June 2010, Kai-Yin remains an active force in the promotion of cross-disciplinary awareness in art, design and culture.

We shall see how Kai-Yin blends art and design with living and style in her own home and also hear her views on the creative mix and interpretation of the practical with the purely aesthetic. A selection of Kai-Yin’s jewellery, specially priced for members, will be made available.

In conjunction with the Museum Society's two cultural tours to Turkey this spring, we have invited Fatih Dikmen to come from Istanbul to present a talk on the cultural and historical treasures of Turkey. This event will begin with a light buffet of dimsum appetizers.

In addition, we have invited art consultant and historian, Catherine Maudsley, to give a brief commentary on 'Rumi's Search for the Beloved'. Catherine, whose formal training in the study of religion included aspects of Sufism, will speak about Celaleddin Rumi's spiritual journey and awakening as a Sufi and how this 13th century poet and mystic's compassion and love for all beings is relevant to our modern world. Her talk will start at 6? pm.

Catherine Maudsley, whose formal training in the study of religion included aspects of Sufism, will speak about Celaleddin Rumi's spiritual journey and awakening as a Sufi, and how the 13th century poet and mystic's compassion and love for all beings is relevant to our modern world. According to Rumi, music helped devotees to focus their whole being on the Divine. He believed passionately in music, poetry and dance as a path for reaching God. It was from these ideas that the practice of "whirling" dervishes developed into a ritual form. In 1273, a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes, or the Mevlevi Order, was founded by Rumi's followers in Konya, Turkey. Each year, December 17 is celebrated as Rumi's "Wedding Day" in Konya to honour his passage from this world and the consummation of his divine love. Rumi, whose path to God was through divine love, is unquestionably Islam's greatest ambassador of peace today.

Based in Hong Kong, Catherine Maudsley is a renowned consultant and writer who teaches and lectures on Asian art. The recipient of numerous scholarly awards and research fellowships, Catherine has been a guest lecturer to over 30 organizations, including Sotheby's Institute of Arts as well as global forums. She was educated in Canada, the USA, Beijing, Hong Kong and Kyoto and holds MA and MPhil degrees in fine arts and religion.

A bridge between Asia and Europe, Turkey is one of the great cradles of ancient civilization with intriguing layers of history and culture, art and architecture, ancient ruins and ornate palaces. Fatih Dikmen comes from Istanbul to present the cultural and historical treasures of Turkey – from the famous archaeological sites of Ephesus, Pergamum and Aphrodisias to the traditions and religious customs of the great Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The breathtaking scenery and haunting landscapes of Pamukkale, Goreme and Cappadocia deserve special mention, as well as the unique architecture of the Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches, the fabulous mosques and the treasures housed in the palaces and museums in Istanbul.

Fatih Dikmen graduated with a BSc degree in Tourism Management from Dokuz Eylül University of Izmir and an MA degree in Sustainable Tourism from the University Of Savoie, France. He specializes in leading archaeological tours from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Asia and in giving lectures, at home and abroad, on the history, language, culture, cuisine, flora and fauna of Turkey. Fatih Dikmen is a professional tour consultant registered with Turkey's Ministry of Culture.

Despite the fact that glass had made its first appearance in China around the Zhou period in the 10th century BC, it had been used all along as a cheap substitute for jade until the Qing Dynasty in the early 18th century, when glass developed into an individual art form and enjoyed imperial patronage. Throughout the three high Qing reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, an enormous quantity of glass objects was produced with high standard at the glasshouse of the Imperial Household Workshop in Beijing under the supervision of the Jesuit missionaries. Glass manufacturing in China reached a pinnacle then. In this lecture, Andrew Lee King Fun (???) will give a comprehensive survey on the aesthetic appreciation of the types, forms and decorative techniques of glass, using the illustrations from his exquisite collection of Qing imperial glasses that dates from the 17th to the 20th century.

Speaker:
Former Chairman of the prestigious Min Chiu Society, Honorary Fellow and Director of The University of Hong Kong Foundation and renowned architect, Andrew Lee King Fun comes from a family in the glass manufacturing business. His important collection of glassware was exhibited at the Chinese University Art Museum in 2000, accompanied by an authoritative, scholarly catalogue entitled "Elegance and Radiance: Grandeur in Qing Glass, the Andrew K.F. Lee Collection".

Synopsis:
By studying women's costumes, accessories and cosmetics from a bygone era, this lecture presentation will trace and shed light on the origins of some common Chinese idiomatic expressions and terms in the areas surrounding the lives of women and marriage customs.

Speaker:
A graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lee Mei-yin (李美賢) has done in-depth research on Chinese ethnic culture, Buddhist art and Chinese embroidery for many years. Currently, she is an advisor to the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture and a teaching faculty at the University of Hong Kong, School of Professional and Continuing Education.

This activity will include two one-hour lectures with double-screen slide presentation of items from the speaker's private collection. Members of the Executive Committee will also prepare home-baked goods to be served during the coffee/tea break.

講座簡介‭:
你知道「弄瓦之喜」、「千頭萬緒」、「絲絲入扣」這些用語的來源及它們與絲織的關係嗎？

我們為什麼稱未嫁的女子為「待字閨中」？在古代婚儀中、「合巹交杯」、「結髮夫妻」、「三朝回門」等用語或習俗的來歷是怎樣的？

古代女子的化艜比現在更開放還是更保守？胭脂、鉛華、戒指的來源又是什麼？

在我們日常生活中，無論詞語、成語和用語均有其來源。本講座將圍繞著衣、飾、化艜、食、住 等各方面，以出土文物及文獻來探討各種事物的來源。(講座中輔以實物作介紹)

講者簡介:
李美賢︰畢業於香港中文大學，從事中國少數民族「民族史與服飾」研究，中國文化教育及推廣工作二十多年。近年研究範圍包括佛教藝術「佛教雕塑」、敦煌、絲綢與刺繡賞析等。現任香港中華文化促進中心之學術顧問「民族文化」，和香港大學專業進修學院之導師。‭ ‬

此講座分為兩個一小時的講解，並輔以雙銀幕放映寶貴資料。中段有半小時茶點招待，勿失良機。

Japanese culinary artist, Keiko Sakurai is both the proprietor and teacher of "Luscious Delicious", a Japanese cooking school located in Wanchai. She is also a cookbook writer, food columnist, nutritionist and food stylist. Having lived in Hong Kong for many years, she has gained fluency in both the spoken and written Chinese language. With a passion for cooking, she has immersed herself in the local culinary culture and has also travelled extensively around the world to master the artistry of regional cuisine.

At this afternoon workshop, Keiko Sakurai will prepare and demonstrate a unique range of stylish and delicious "Japanese delicacies" – a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. Do come and enjoy an afternoon of Japanese food and culture with this special culinary artist.

This talk explores the types of imagery found in late Burmese murals and links the way in which they were depicted with contemporary religious and social trends. Through the standardized organization of the three sets of canonical stories, the murals express a number of different concepts, particularly the importance of hierarchy, kingship and the merit path to enlightenment (nirvana) to Burmese contemporary society, while the magical and protective imagery indicates the inclusiveness of Burmese Buddhism.

Speaker Dr. Alexandra Green has an M.A. and Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to taking up her appointment as Research Assistant Professor at HKU, Dr. Green was Curator of Asian Art and Museum Director at the Denison Museum, Denison University, Granville, Ohio. Her catalogue of Burmese art at Denison, entitled "Eclectic Collecting: Art from Burma in the Denison Museum", was published in June 2008 by NUS Press. Further publications include "Burma: Art and Archaeology" produced by the British Museum Press in 2002. She has also lectured on Southeast Asian Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies and was Curator of the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, UK.