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Hong Kong Eye at Saatchi Gallery
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- Last Updated on Monday, 04 February 2013 13:32
Hong Kong Eye at London's Saatchi Gallery (4 December 2012-12 January 2013) is presented as the first major international showcasing of Hong Kong's contemporary art, writes Sajid Rizvi.
This may well be the case. Hong Kong has played a pivotal role in introducing art from the mainland, as indeed from Taiwan and Chinese Southeast Asia (Nanyang) to the world stage, but has missed out somewhat on securing as much exposure for its own talent as it probably deserves.
In that sense this show is a corrective of sorts. No presentational or survey exhibition from such a crowded creative community can be fully representative, but this is as timely an offering as any.
Hong Kong Eye, backed by Prudential and other corporate entities, features more than 50 works by 18 prominent emerging artists from Hong Kong, "marking the largest touring international showcase to date of Hong Kong contemporary art.," as a organiser blurb puts it.
'Emerging artist' increasingly is an arbitrary term of convenience, for how long should it take an artist to be classed as emerging and when does he or she cease to be one and morph into an established artist? Several of the artists in the show have had their works in art auctions and sell well through commercial galleries.
Most of the works on display have not been shown outside Asia. These include Amy Cheung's full-size wooden tank which visitors can operate, immersive videos and a diverse range of installations including MTR turnstiles by Joao Vasco Paiva and a large-scale moving soft sculpture by Adrian Wong.
Other artists include Chow Chun Fai, Silas Fong, Kong Chun Hei, Kum Chi Keung, Lui Chun Kwong, Otto Li, Florian Ma, Lam Tung Pang, Hector Rodriguez, Adrian Wong, Joao Vasco Paiva, Leung Kui Ting, Ho Sin Tung, Annie Wan, and Justin Wong.
Johnson Chang Tsong-Zung, director of Hanart TZ Gallery, is a co-curator alongside Serenella Ciclitira, founder of Hong Kong Eye.
Image above: Chow Chun Fai, Once a Thief, 'Any Self-Respecting Thief Would be Proud to Steal this Painting,' 2008, enamel paint on canvas, 100 x 150 cm. Image: The artist and Hanart TZ Gallery
Hong Kong Eye. 4 December-12 January 2013. Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Square, Chelsea, London SW3 4SQ.
