Media

University Artist Gu Wenda Leads HKU Fine Arts Centenary Project

16 Oct 2012

 

In conjunction with the Arts Centenary and the move to its new home in Run Run Shaw Tower on the Centennial Campus, the Department of Fine Arts has initiated a collaborative project with University Artist Gu Wenda incorporating short, specially composed calligraphic phrases produced by members of the public and the University community. The project is based on the poetic scrambling of language Gu devised for his installation Forest of Stone Steles: Retranslation & Rewriting of Tang Poetry (碑林–唐詩后著).

During his upcoming visit to Hong Kong, Gu Wenda is hosting a calligraphic workshop, at which participants will have the opportunity to work with the internationally acclaimed visual artist on their chosen phrase. The collected phrases will then form the basis for Gu Wenda’s Centenary artwork for the University and contributions will be bound into a book for display.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend the event or conduct an interview session with Mr Gu Wenda. Details are as follows:
17 October 2012 (Wednesday)
6pm – 7:30pm
Convocation Room, MB218, The University of Hong Kong

The workshop will be conducted in English. Details about the project can be found on the following website: http://guwendahku.wordpress.com/

The University Artists Scheme 2011- 2012 is hosted by the Faculty of Arts and is generously supported by the Daniel Chan Fund. This event is held with the support of the Department of Fine Arts.

About the University Artists Scheme:
The University Artists Scheme was officially launched in 2008 and is the first programme of its kind to be held at HKU. The Scheme brings artists of international caliber to the campus, to share their knowledge with and enrich the lives of students, staff and the community. UAS website: http://arts.hku.hk/UAS/

About the artist:
Gu Wenda (谷文達) is considered one of the pioneers of Chinese contemporary art. In the early to mid 1980s, he challenged the establishment and influenced an entire generation of artists in China with a series of provocative ink paintings that employed fake or pseudo Chinese characters. After he moved to the United States in 1987, he began creating large-scale installations, using everything from human hair to human placenta powder to create artistic objects and explore the issues surrounding multiculturalism and globalization. Through his work, Gu Wenda has established himself as a powerful commentator on the cultural and linguistic barriers that continue to exist in a globalized era.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Georgina Challen, Public Affairs Manager, Faculty of Arts (tel: 3917 4250 email: gchallen@hku.hk) or Ms Phyllis Mak, Programme Manager, Faculty of Arts, HKU (tel: 3917 8048, email: kpmak@hku.hk).