Media

Major global events retold through multimedia exhibition
“Chen Xi: So We Remember”
Renowned Chinese artist to exhibit for first time in Hong Kong

01 Mar 2016

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) collaborates with Chen Xi on the exhibition Chen Xi: So We Remember from March 2 to May 15, 2016. The artist created this series of contemporary images to commemorate, to document and to provoke thought. The paintings illustrate important events that have shaped our modern world. In the current show, we present her preliminary pen and watercolour drawings along with the finished oil paintings.

An opening ceremony of the exhibition was held at UMAG today (March 1). Officiating guests included Director of Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences Professor Angela Leung Ki-che, ART HONG KONG MAGAZINE Executive Editor-in-Chief Ms Shally Chow, Artist Ms Chen Xi and Director of UMAG Dr Florian Knothe.

Meticulous in her research and true to both the documented incident and the domestic details, Chen Xi creates historical paintings for our present and future generations. Her method directly relates to contemporary life and to a society that is informed and influenced by modern-day media. Interestingly, the artist does not simply depict a historic event, but frames within a TV screen each episode of her sequential and international narrative. By presenting the paintings within the TV’s glass, they become screen shots linked to a specific moment in time and space, as well as to the living room setting where the news would have been seen. In addition, the exhibition includes four early paintings that relate to the TV series and Chen Xi’s development as an artist.

Chen Xi’s connection to her audience is as multifaceted as the international community viewing the paintings. Individuals are reminded of the broader implications and specific details of the political or social events being depicted. In concert with this, viewers are drawn in, sometimes uncomfortably close, to the domestic interior within the work. The artist’s dialogue recalls and re-presents a moving tribute to the events, and we are thankful to Chen Xi for this opportunity to share such an intimate encounter.

All exhibition-related activities will be held at 1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Talk and Guided Viewing
Escaping freely, Chen Xi’s Art World
Date: March 5, 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 15:00 – 16:30
Language: Putonghua
Cost: Free Admission. All are welcome.
Please refer to Escaping freely document for more details.

Conversation
Conversation with Chen Xi
Date: March 24, 2016 (Thursday)
Time: 16:00 – 16:45
Language: Putonghua
Cost: Free Admission. All are welcome.

Public Guided Tours (approx. 25 minutes)
Cantonese: March 19, April 9 & 30 (Saturday, 15:00)
English: March 3 (Thursday, 13:30), April 7 (Thursday, 13:00), April 16 (Saturday, 15:00)
Putonghua: March 3 & 24, April 28 (Thursday, 13:00)

Details of the Exhibition
Period: March 2, 2016 (Wednesday) to May 15, 2016 (Sunday)|
Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays
Venue: 1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku
Instagram: #ChenXi_SoWeRemember
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU
Weibo: http://goo.gl/J2aKyo

About the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)
UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

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

Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games
Oil on Canvas
2010
150 x 180 cm

Hong Kong’s Return
Oil on Canvas
2008
155 x 210 cm

In the Time of SARS
Watercolour on Paper
2009
31 x 41 cm

One-child Policy
Watercolour on Paper
2009
31 x 41 cm