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The creativity and passion of a number of internationally acclaimed artists will be manifested at a large-scale exhibition - "Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation" which will run at the Hong Kong Museum of Art from tomorrow (May 22) to August 9.
The exhibition was officially opened today (May 21) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang. Other officiating guests were the Chairman and CEO of LVMH/Mo?t Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Mr Bernard Arnault, the Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, Mr Yves Carcelle, the President of Louis Vuitton Asia Pacific, Mr Jean-Baptiste Debains, the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Jean-Pierre Thˆmbault, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Thomas Chow, and the Chief Curator of Hong Kong Museum of Art, Mr Tang Hoi-chui.
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Louis Vuitton and the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Crˆmation in collaboration with the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong, the exhibition has been organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art and is an event of Le French May.
The composition of this exhibition demonstrates different concepts and practices of contemporary and avant-garde art. It begins with antique trunks and suitcases of Louis Vuitton which have evolved as a symbol of "art travelling". Artists and designers, including Takashi Murakami, Stephen Sprouse and Richard Prince, who share a close partnership with Louis Vuitton, have been invited to display their works of painting, installations, fashion and sculpture created exclusively for this exhibition. By artfully incorporating into the Louis Vuitton monogram, their works show how commercial elements merge with art and design to showcase the high adaptability and evolution of contemporary art.
The second section of the exhibition features a fine selection from the contemporary art collection of the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Crˆmation, including works by renowned Chinese, French and American artists: Gilbert & George, Andreas Gursky, Bertrand Lavier, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Prince, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Pierre Huyghe, Christian Marclay, Jeff Koons, Robert Boyd, Paul Chan, Cao Fei and Yang Fudong.
Also on display at the exhibition is a three-dimensional model and brief introduction to the forthcoming Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Crˆmation Museum, designed by iconic architect Frank Gehry. To be inaugurated in France in 2012, the new museum is a fusion of technology, architecture and aesthetic. Its naturalistic curving contours and forms are innovative and representative of the architect's signature style, and will act as an enlightened inspiration to cultural facilities in the future. Renowned American artist Richard Prince has wrapped the fa?ade of the Hong Kong Museum of Art with his work "Hong Kong After Dark", presenting a new landmark landscape of art to the panoramic Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong.
To tie in with the Hong Kong context, and in extension of its principle of nurturing creative talents, the Fondation has invited a curator to commission seven young Hong Kong artists to participate in this exhibition. They are Leung Chi-wo, Tsang Kin-wah, Lee Kit, Tozer Pak, Doris Wong, Adrian Wong and Nadim Abbas. Working in different media and styles, their works originate from their thoughts and passion for the unique urban life, social affairs, cultural heritage and psychology of Hong Kong, and are a mirror to the creative expression and characteristics of Hong Kong contemporary art.
To enhance viewers' appreciation of the exhibition, an education gallery has been set up with introductory text, books and interesting activities. Audio guides, free public guided tours, video programmes, a workshop and an exhibition web-kit will also be provided. Finally, a fully illustrated catalogue will be published and available at the Gift Shop of the Museum of Art.
Admission to "Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation" is $30. A half-price concession will be available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, full-time students and people with disabilities. "Free Admission on Wednesdays" and the Museum Weekly Pass will not apply to this exhibition.
The Museum of Art is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It opens from 10am to 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and Fridays, and from 10am to 8pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Thursdays (except public holidays).
For details of the exhibition, please visit the Museum of Art's website http://hk.art.museum . For enquiries, call 2721 0116.
Ends/Thursday, May 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:31
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