Media

Christie’s Education and University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Arts
announce continued partnership for Contemporary Asian Art Seminar Program in May

09 Jan 2017

(Front) William Lim, 54:10: Artist’s table, 2011. (Right) Lam Tung-Pang, The Huge Mountain, 2011. Courtesy of Living Collection.

Riding on the success of the inaugural partnership last July, the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Arts and Christie’s Education are delighted to announce that they will join forces again to offer “Contemporary Asian Art: An Insider’s View” from 15 – 19 May 2017. Registration opens on 16 January 2017.

This five-day program is targeted at those who wish to begin or deepen their engagement with the art world, whether through collecting or developing careers in the field. Taking Asia as an example, the seminars and visits will teach participants how to look at and evaluate contemporary art, while discussions and class activities will explain how markets and institutions work. The art historical portion of the program is conceived and delivered by the world-class faculty at the Fine Arts Department of the University of Hong Kong, while the market-related portion is developed by Christie’s Education. The program is designed to be hands-on and interactive: through examining original works of art, visiting different art spaces, conversations with industry insiders, and group discussions, it aims to provide a broad spectrum of views into the world of contemporary art in Asia.  

Elaine Kwok, Director, Christie’s Education Asia
“In recent years, Hong Kong has thrived in its capacity as the art hub of Asia, and we have seen a phenomenal growth in galleries, art fairs, museums, independent art spaces and auctions. While this program takes Hong Kong as a case study, it is international in scope and aims to inspire deeper understanding and broaden participation in the field throughout the region. We have designed the program to first provide a basic framework for looking at art, then examine the mechanisms of the market and the impact of patrons and institutions. Unique in its hands-on approach, the seminar series has a focus on active group discussions, engagement with original works of art, discussions with industry experts, and networking amongst participants.”

Yeewan Koon, Associate Professor, Fine Arts Department, University of Hong Kong
“We often find ourselves being asked “What is good art?” This is a question with no answer, but it does prompt us to think about where one should begin when confronted with a work of art.  The most fundamental step is to learn how to look at art in an informed manner: this means acquiring the vocabulary and skills to talk and write about art, considering the history and context of the work, and pondering what new information that we can gain from the piece. In this program, we provide an introduction to modern and contemporary Asian art, through seminars and conversations that impart these fundamental tools, so that we can appreciate and understand the many different ways of looking at art across the world. ”

Details & Registration:
christies.edu/hku
arts.hku.hk/events/christiesprogram

Program inquiries:
Cyrus Chan: cyrusc@hku.hk; +852 3917 4984
Winifred Chan: hongkong@christies.edu; +852 2978 6768

Program details are subject to change.
Seminars, discussions, and program materials will be in English.
Letter of attendance will be issued to participants who attend and participate in all sessions.

About Christie’s Education
Christie’s Education offers Master’s degrees in London and New York, ranging from antiquity, to contemporary art, to pioneering degrees in Art, Law and Business, as well as a wide range of short courses across our international sites. Christie’s Education Asia, with Hong Kong as its headquarters, offers short courses to art enthusiasts, professionals, practitioners, and collectors throughout the year. With rich resources from Christie’s, art institutions, and universities, Christie’s Education Asia brings engaging courses covering extensive topics including Chinese Works of Art, Asian Contemporary Art, Art & Law, Global Art Business, to audiences in Asia and beyond.

About the Department of Fine Arts
The Department of Fine Arts at the University of Hong Kong offers the most comprehensive art history training to be found in Hong Kong or China as a whole, teaching Asian and Western art as equally valued traditions up to doctoral level. The Department's teachers are internationally-renowned experts and active researchers who have contributed to making the Department a centre of art historical excellence in Hong Kong and globally. Founded in 1912, the Faculty of Arts is one of the University’s oldest and largest faculties and is consistently recognized as one of the best in Asia for the Arts and Humanities.

Press Contacts:
Christie’s Education  Gigi Ho        +852 2978 6719  gigiho@christies.com
Faculty of Arts         Cyrus Chan  +852 3917 4984   cyrusc@hku.hk