Sunday June 21, 2009
Artistic synergy
Stories by WILLIAM K.C. KEE
The best of both worlds meet in an ongoing exhibition in Hong Kong, that merges art and high-end fashion.
BEFORE you even step foot into the Museum of Art in Hong Kong, you’re already treated to a tantalising art piece, featured on its facade.
Wrapped around the museum’s outer walls is Hong Kong After Dark by American artist Richard Prince, who aims to capture “the mystique of the nightlife and the desire that lies between fantasy and reality”.
Touted as an art landmark to complement the panoramic view of nearby Victoria Harbour, the piece showcases 18 SX-rated graphics of couples during naughty trysts.
This is but a sneak preview of the eccentric, provocative surprises that await at the Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation exhibition, currently on at the museum.
Art lovers – double the treat if they happen to be into high-end fashion – should drop by the Museum of Art if they are in Hong Kong. After all, the large-scale art exhibition – opened last month by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Henry Tang Ying-yen, amidst a glittering, star-studded ceremony – is orchestrated by Louis Vuitton (LV), one of the world’s hottest brand names. This is the first time the French luxury house is displaying its top-range collection of modern art works to the public in Asia.
The exhibition starts with the a display of Louis Vuitton’s signature antique trunks and suitcases, which have become a symbol of ‘art travelling’. Not surprisingly, the exhibition is dedicated to the LV story, using artworks and archive documents to illustrate the creative process behind its pieces.
Inside the museum – once you’re done ogling Prince’s work – the exhibition is divided into several sections to depict the different concepts and practices of contemporary and avant-garde art.
The first section, “Louis Vuitton and Art”, starts with the display of LV’s signature antique trunks and suitcases, which have become a symbol of “art travelling”. It showcases the brand’s most exceptional trunks, such as the Stokowski secretary trunk (created in 1930), wrapped in the legendary Monogram canvas and the Milano fitted case (1925), with Morocco leather lining.
Also featured are paintings, installations, fashion and sculptural works by artists and designers such as Takashi Murakami, Stephen Sprouse and Prince, all of whom have collaborated with LV before.
By artfully incorporating its monogram into their works, they show how commercial elements can merge with art and design to showcase the evolution of contemporary art.
The second section features large-scale works, sculptures, photographs, films and installations by well-known Chinese, French and American artists.
Two who grab attention in this area are Britons Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore. Better known as duo Gilbert and George, they were garbed in their trademark matching formal suits with dual-toned, checked ties. For most of the time, the Turner Prize winners struck unsmiling, sombre poses in front of their triptych, Class War, Militant, Gateway which focuses on humanity and existence.
Richard Prince The other artists are Andreas Gursky, Bertrand Lavier, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Pierre Huyghe, Christian Marclay, Jeff Koons, Robert Boyd, Paul Chan, Cao Fei and Yang Fudong. The art works express their feelings and perceptions, and pose questions about modern urban life.
To inject local flavour, seven young Hong Kong artists are also featured, namely Leung Chi-wo, Tsang Kin-wah, Lee Kit, Tozer Pak, Doris Wong, Adrian Wong and Nadim Abbas.
Their pieces, in different media and styles, originate from their thoughts on social affairs, cultural heritage and the psychology of Hong Kong, and mirror the creative expressions and characteristics of the city’s contemporary art.
The highlight of the exhibition is a three-dimensional architectural model which serves as an introduction to the Foundation Louis Vuitton pour la Creation Museum in France. Designed by iconic architect Frank Gehry, the museum will be inaugurated in 2012.
It design is a combination of technology, architecture and aesthetics. Canada-born Gehry uses glass as the primary exterior material to complement the natural environment, while innovative curving contours and forms represent his signature style.
Admission to Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation, which runs till Aug 9, is HK$30 (RM14). For details, visit hk.art.museum.
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