Media

Rising Above: The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection
on display for the first time outside of the United States

08 Dec 2016

(From left) Ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mr Bernard W. Kinsey, Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey and Mr Khalil Kinsey, United States Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau Mr Kurt W. Tong, HKU Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Derek Collins, HKU Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) Professor W. John Kao and UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe.

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will work with The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection on the exhibition Rising Above from 9 December 2016 (tomorrow) to 26 February 2017. The exhibition includes over 120 items that range from paintings and sculptures to rare first editions and manuscripts, letters and official records that testify to the courage and hope of African Americans rising above the challenges they faced – and still face – to make their voices heard.

The opening ceremony for the exhibition was held at UMAG today (8 December 2016). Officiating guests included collectors Mr Bernard W. Kinsey, Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey and Mr Khalil Kinsey, United States Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau Mr Kurt W. Tong, HKU Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) Professor W. John Kao, HKU Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Derek Collins, and UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe.

The Kinsey Collection has been seen by over six million people in 24 cities around the United States. It is the first privately owned collection to have been displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and is now on long-term display at Epcot, a theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, that attracts millions of visitors every year.

Dr Florian Knothe, Director of the University Museum and Art Gallery said: “This rising above adversity is not a localised historic phenomenon, but one as much known in Asia as in America. The documents and artifacts shown in our exhibition – the very first display of The Kinsey Collection outside of the U.S. - pertain to African emigrants and their life-stories, but, beyond a specific people, they speak for the social engagement and success, inclusion and exclusion, as well as the massive contribution of a minority group in our increasingly globalised world. In both East and West, minorities deserve recognition for their accomplishments and the requisite political freedoms to embrace and develop their own cultures. ”

Professor Derek Collins, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, HKU, said: “It is fitting that The Kinsey Collection makes its debut outside the US in Hong Kong. As a vibrant, open and globally connected city, the citizens of Hong Kong will find many kindred spirits in this collection. If you only have one “aha” moment while experiencing this exhibition, then all of our efforts to bring this collection to Hong Kong will have been worth it: because in that moment, you will recognise yourself.”

As described by Mr Bernard W. and Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey: “This is an exhibition where art and history intersect, containing a balance of rare and authentic historical objects and fine art from 1595 to the present, which shares the incredible experience and contributions of African Americans that are often left out of American History books.”

The exhibition is organized in collaboration with KBK Enterprises, Inc. and the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Arts & Education. Goldman Sachs is a Silver Sponsor and American Airlines is the exhibition’s Official Airline. Supporting organizations include the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong and Macau, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Lan Kwai Fong Group, and the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

Details of the Exhibition
Period: 9 December 2016 (Friday) to 26 February 2017 (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, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU
Instagram: #KinseyCollection, #RisingAbove, #AfricanAmerican, #AmericanHistory
Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG

About 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.

About the Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of the University of Hong Kong’s oldest and largest faculties and is consistently recognized as one of the best in Asia for the Arts and Humanities. Our international outlook is reflected in the incredible diversity of our staff and students and our collaborations with other top universities around the globe. For more information on the Faculty of Arts, please click here.

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

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