Tag: art

Art Basel, Treasure or Trash

After a two-year absence, courtesy of covid Art Basel returns as a physical event… Although with travel quarantine measures still in place many of the regular Art Basel participants are not here.

If we’re being honest – among art aficionados, the amount of hot air often overpowers the strongest aircon – this year’s Art Basel was simply boring.

While art is very subjective and personal and what you like I may not. Art Basel usually has a fair number of pieces that even if you don’t like them they get you thinking or stimulate discussion. This year it was a bit like walking through Ikea it was all so bland, safe and derivative. Not to mention that most participating artists were of the idea that big, bigger and biggest will be ‘more better’ (and profitable).

Here are a few pieces that were less ordinary than the rest, more can be found here:

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220526-Art-Basel/i-wnPCBkm

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220526-Art-Basel/i-r5RN4cF

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220526-Art-Basel/i-mh9PWSW

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220526-Art-Basel/i-Q4K6J29

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220526-Art-Basel/i-JzdkgxJ

Satirical Cartoonist Ah To Forced to Flee Hong Kong

Satirical cartoonist 阿塗 Ah To has announced that he has been forced to leave Hong Kong because he no longer feels safe…

A statement on Ah To’s facebook page explains his reasons for leaving so abruptly:

抱歉，離開香港，係因為我想繼續為香港創作。
呢句說話聽落好自相矛盾，但我內心又真係咁複雜矛盾。如今靈魂遺留在故地，肉體卻已經流亡，要咁撕裂地創作，只擔心往後的作品會魂不附體，難接地氣；但，留喺香港創作時事漫畫，精神壓力巨大，離別係逼不得已的抉擇。
畫咗十一年時事漫畫，2017年社運低潮時有諗過放棄；2021年有諗過轉型畫生活題材，但依家係香港最需要同時又最唔需要時事漫畫的時候，所以我更想堅持。原諒我軟弱無能，只能遙距透過創作繼續與香港同行。
因為離別匆匆，而且必須低調，遺憾無法同朋友一一話別。諗起再會無期的香港親友，諗起在囚或待審的戰友，諗起一直支持我的讀者，諗起要被迫陪我一齊走難的太太⋯⋯心裏非常愧疚。未試過出一個Post 會感到如此吃力，每一個字都令我難過。我會記住呢份愧疚，多替不能發聲的人發聲，希望將來香港歷史書上唔會留低一片靜默；日後提起呢個時代，唔會只剩當代人先能夠理解的零碎記憶，欠缺咗自由的表述，感觸或無從說起。
願良善的人珍重，以各種形式將良善存留下去。

English translation:

“I’m sorry. I’m leaving Hong Kong because I want to continue creating art for HK.

This sounds paradoxical, but that’s reflective of how I feel inside. My soul remains here, but my flesh has fled. I am concerned that my art may be detached from reality once I begin creating with my soul detached from my flesh, but the pressure of continuing to make topical comics in Hong Kong is too great, I am forced to leave.

I’ve been making topical comics for 11 years, I’ve thought about giving up in 2017 when the social movement was at a low point. I considered transitioning to more slice of life topics in 2021, but that was when HK least and most needed topical comics, I wanted to hang in there. Forgive me, I am weak, I can only accompany HK by creating art from afar.

I had to leave in a hurry, and must keep a low profile, so I regret not being able to bid all my friends farewell. I feel much guilt when I think of my readers who’ve supported me all the way, our comrades who are imprisoned or awaiting trial, and my wife who’s forced to flee with me.

I had no idea posting this would be so difficult, every word I type makes me so sad. I shall carry this guilt with me and speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

I hope that the history books of HK will not be filled with silence. In the future, as we try to remember what happened, we’ll have more to rely on beyond the fragmented memories of people who were there. Without expression free, it’s hard to express our feelings.

Take care kind folk, and may kindness be preserved in its many forms.”

press freedom Ah To

leave safe home Ah To

History repeating itself - Ah To

Art Central

Art Central
Date: 26-29 May, 2022
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: $250, $200, $150 from HKTicketing
More info:
Wednesday 25 May: Preview
Thursday 26 May: 2-5pm / 5-8pm
Friday 27 May: 11am -3pm / 3-7pm
Saturday 28 May: 11am -3pm / 3-7pm
Sunday 29 May: 11 am-3pm / 3-6pm

Art Basel 2022

Art Basel
Date: 25-29 May, 2022
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: $850, $650, $450, $350, $250 from HKTicketing
More info:
25 May: 5-9pm
26 May: 1-8pm
27-28 May: 1–9pm
29 May: 11am–6pm

Art Basel Postponed from March to May 2022

Art Basel today postponed its Hong Kong fair, which was scheduled to take place in March 2022, to May 2022 in response to the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic and related travel restrictions.

Adeline Ooi, Director Asia, Art Basel said: “By taking this decision early, our goal is to ensure that we will be able to welcome the community of art supporters and members of the public at HKCEC, as well as the international audience that will be joining us virtually while protecting the health and safety of everyone concerned.”

The 2022 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 27-29 May, 2022, with preview days on 25-26 May.

Art Basel
Date: 25-29 May, 2022
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: tbc

Shiho So – Under the City Lights

Japan-based Taiwan-born artist Shiho So first solo exhibition in Hong Kong runs from 15-30 January at kkplus in Langham Place, Mongkok.

Shino’s nostalgic 1970s Japanese comic style is full of neon and explores teenage life under the city lights. The exhibition features 49 works mostly printed, but there are two original drawings.

So has collaborated with local future funk label Neoncity Records to create album covers for producers such as Night Tempo, Macross 82-99, and Android Apartment.

Shiho So Under the City Lights
Date: 15-30 January, 2022
Venue: kkplus, 12/F, Langham Place, Mongkok
Tickets: Free