Speech by SCST at preview and opening reception of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia - A Conversation (English only)
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Mr Henry Tang (Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority), Mr Bernard Chan (Chairman of the M+ Board), Mr Nicolas D Hunsworth (Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), Mrs Christile Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macao), Mrs Cécile Debray (President of the Musée national Picasso-Paris), Ms Pansy Ho (Co-chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening and a very warm welcome to a full house of audience here. I'm so happy to see you all. I am most delighted to be in M+ Museum with you all here tonight to celebrate the opening of this extraordinary exhibition "the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia – A Conversation". The power of artwork in telling stories and evoking emotions is universally acknowledged, and I believe art lovers would agree with me that Pablo Picasso is a master of the masters in terms of his ability to highlight, or more precisely, to breakdown the subject of his paintings to evoke a strong sense of emotion in the viewers.
I know that this exhibition, which features over 60 of Picasso's materpieces in dialogue with works from the M+ Collections by Asian and Asian-diasporic artists, has been long-awaited and eagerly anticipated by many, including me of course. Instead of a straightforward showcase of famous pieces, this exhibition shows innovative curatorial vision by creating a dynamic conversation between the brilliance of Piccaso's work and the richness of Asia's artistic traditions.
This innovative curatorial approach aligns perfectly with the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated by my Bureau (Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau) in November 2024. The Blueprint sets out, among other important features, a clear vision of Hong Kong becoming an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, under which we would like to attract tourists through international arts and cultural exhibitions and performances, thereby promoting the integration of culture and tourism.
High quality exhibition such as today's will certainly help Hong Kong leap forward towards fulfilling the vision and, as a result, it should not come as any surprise that this exhibition is supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under my Bureau, and that it is high on our list of signature events in the Hong Kong Super March programme.
Indeed, this March, Hong Kong is filled with a fascinating array of world-class events attracting participants from various sectors, and tourists from all over the world. Apart from the official opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park, World Snooker Grand Prix (2025) and LIV Golf (Hong Kong) 2025 that took place in the past fortnight, upcoming highly anticipated events in the lineup include ComplexCon Hong Kong, Art Central, Art Basel Hong Kong and Hong Kong Sevens, just to name a few.
I sincerely invite all of you, my friends, to take part in at least some of these exciting Super March events.
Before I close, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible efforts of M+ Museum in presenting this eye-opening and thought-provoking exhibition. My special thanks also go to Musée national Picasso-Paris for co-curating the exhibition.
May I wish the exhibition every success and everyone here an enjoyable evening. Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:07
Issued at HKT 20:07
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