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In a concerted push to put the spotlight firmly on Hong Kong as a vibrant cultural centre, the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and ART HK today (May 24) announced the launch of a new initiative ˇV Hong Kong Art Week -to be held between May 25 and 30 at ART HK 10, this year's Hong Kong International Art Fair.
Principally sponsored by the HAB and co-presented by the HAB and ART HK, Hong Kong Art Week is committed to bringing an international focus to local art.
The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young, said the objective of holding Hong Kong Art Week was three-fold. "First, to make art accessible for the general public by bringing art outdoors into the community for public enjoyment, and to generate public awareness of the rich variety of cultural events taking place in the city.
"Second, to expose international art lovers to the wealth, diversity and vibrancy of artistic activity within the art community in Hong Kong, and to provide an international platform for Hong Kong artists to have their work seen by international visitors drawn to Hong Kong at this time.
"And, last but not least, to bring major works by international artists to Hong Kong, which will help generate discussion and reflection on the vibrancy of contemporary visual culture,"he said.
Specially commissioned this year, Classical Brit Award nominated composer and artist Simon Boswell will present BLINK, an audio-visual video installation that captures people in slow motion, the moment that they have their guard down, where the public begins to see them as human beings. BLINK's Hong Kong debut will feature international and Hong Kong media icons including Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Michael Jackson, Kate Moss, and David and Victoria Beckham. The 30-metre-high video installation projected onto the facade of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui will be on view to the public nightly from May 25 to 28, between 8.15pm and 11pm, and can be watched from across Victoria Harbour.
In addition, the Hong Kong Contemporary Art and Biennial Awards will be given special focus during Hong Kong Art Week with a special exhibition booth at ART HK. Two Hong Kong Contemporary Art and Biennial Awards winners, multi-media artist Hung Keung and ink artist Wong Hau-Kwei, will each be showing at ART HK 10, putting an international spotlight on local artists.
ART HK ˇV Hong Kong International Art Fair is the leading showcase for international modern and contemporary art in Asia. Held every year, it has been attracting many of the most prestigious galleries from around the world. Major international and regional auction houses are making this city the base of their operations in Asia.
First held in 1975, the Hong Kong Contemporary Art and Biennial Awards is a longstanding showcase of quality local art. It aims to provide an open platform for the exhibition of excellent works of art by local artists, and many award-winning artists have become well-established locally and regionally.
In addition, the Hong Kong Art Talks will take place at ART HK 10, featuring a selection of Hong Kong artists and biennial award winners focusing on themes of the "Hong Kong diaspora" and "Hong Kong identity".
Adrian Wong, Simon Birch and John Batten will talk about "Hong Kong Identity: A Moveable Feast? The Expatriate Experience" on May 29. The next day (May 30), Tang Kwok-hin, Zhou Jin, Koon Wai-bong and Lam Tung-pang will share their views on ˇ§Hong Kong Identity, Hong Kong Art: The Search for Cultural Focus in a Globalised Worldˇ¨.
For more information, please visit www.hongkongartfair.com
Ends/Monday, May 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:21
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