Media

HKU weekly notice (from February 28 to March 7, 2015)

27 Feb 2015

 

HKUL Book Talk - Proverse Prize Library Talk
The International Proverse Prize for Unpublished Writing
Speaker:  Mr Rupert Chan M H, Mr Lawrence Gray, Mr Peter Gregoire, Ms Birgit Bunzel Linder, Mr James Tam & Ms Rebecca Tomasis
Moderator:  Dr Gillian Bickley, Co-Founder of the International Proverse Prize for unpublished writing
Date :  5 March 2015 (Thursday)
Time :  6:30 - 8:00 pm
Venue :  Special Collections, 1/F, Main Library, The University of Hong Kong
Language :  English
Registration:  http://lib.hku.hk/friends/reading_club/bt2015_02.html

Media Contact:  Mr. Gary Chin, Tel: 2859 2211 / Ms. Marina Yeung, Tel: 2859 8903

Exhibitions at UMAG
1. “The real” in the eyes of artists in “Desiring the Real: Austria Contemporary Art”

Period: February 18, 2015 (Wednesday) to March 22, 2015 (Sunday)

“Desiring the Real: Austria Contemporary Art” is an exhibition of Austria contemporary art held from February 18 to March 22, 2015. This thematic exhibition presents contemporary artworks by 25 Austrian artists who investigate, through images and installations, representations of ‘the real’, and the subjective perception of reality by individual onlookers.

“Desiring the Real” is an assemblage of individual views of daily life and the environment, this exhibition presents a variety of ‘portraits’ documenting the status quo at the precise moment that each image was created. Reality describes the conjectured state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or be imagined, and it refers to everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible. Reality is often contrasted with what is imaginary, delusional, or confined to the mind and dreams; with what is false, fictional or abstract.

The desire to imitate ‘the real’ in artworks forms the core of this study as, traditionally, artists strive to epitomise reality truthfully. Beyond this tradition, Iin “Desiring the Real”, one medium, such as film or video art, can take on the artistic qualities of another art form, such as Chinese ink painting, as shown in the fluid and expressive video installation Cluster (2010) by Rainer Gamsjäger. Through representations of the real, the perception of the receiving persons and their individual paradigms are critical to the understanding of the real and to the judgment of reality.

This remarkable concept was originally commissioned by the Federal Chancellery of Austria in 2012, and has since been shown in modern and contemporary art museums in Serbia, Mexico, Cuba, Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Macedonia and France.

2. “Silent Poetry: Chinese Contemporary Ink”: an imaginary sound of ink paintings

Period: February 11, 2015 (Wednesday) to April 2, 2015 (Thursday)

“Silent Poetry” showcases Chinese ink paintings as if they are beautiful poems which contain no words and sound. Unlike so many of the mass-produced popular artworks today, these Chinese contemporary ink paintings differ from their traditional counterparts in terms of their form, style and techniques. Contemporary ink paintings challenge some concepts of traditional Chinese paintings and individual artists apply unconventional mediums, materials and tools to change the traditional painting practice and to break constraints while preserving their profound values at the same time.

To tie in with the exhibition, a wide range of activities including workshops entitled “Drawing in the Gallery (Family Class)” and “Artistic Creation: From Photo to Painting” will be held on February 28, 2015 and March 7, 2015 respectively; while an academic lecture entitled “Chinese Contemporary Ink Paintings on transformation, curation and collecting” will be held on March 14, 2015 to enhance the public’s knowledge of and interest in contemporary ink paintings.

This exhibition and related activities are co-organised by the UMAG and Chinese Modern & Contemporary Art Document (CCAD) with the support of HKU, CAFA ART INFO, the Chinese Contemporary Art Promotion Centre (CCAP), Art Nova 100 and the Beijing Strategic Cultural Development Co. Ltd. Participating artists include Chen Jun, Du Xiao-tong, Hao Shi-ming, Li Wei, Pan Wen-xun, Sun Hao, Xu Hua-ling, Xu Jia-cun and Zhu Zheng-ming.

UMAG opening hours:
09:30am – 6:00 pm(Mon to Sat)
1:00 – 6:00pm (Sun)
Closed on University and Public Holidays

Venue: 1/F Fung Ping Shan Building, University Museum and Art Gallery, the University of Hong Kong, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Fees: Free Admission
Website: www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Media enquiries:
UMAG Communication Officer Miss Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk    

Guided tours for schools
UMAG exhibitions will involve dedicated education and outreach activities. The museum welcomes all school groups as well as tertiary institutions to request guided tours led by trained docents during our touring hours (Monday-Saturday, 09:30 – 17:00). Guided tours are available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. To request an appointment, please contact Miss Elena Cheung on 2241-5512 or elenac@hku.hk for booking and further information.