HKwalls Hong Kong AiR
Fresh off the back of another successful street art festival, HKwalls is expanding its programming to help further develop Hong Kong and Asia’s burgeoning art scene. Introducing the HKwalls Hong Kong Artist-in-Residence programme (Hong Kong AiR), a multidisciplinary initiative designed to provide quality studio spaces in Hong Kong for talented emerging artists, allowing them to bypass the expensive Hong Kong property prices to focus on their work.
As part of District15 Platforms, this iteration of Hong Kong AiR, artists’ studios will be situated on the 1/F and 2/F of the retail podium at The Nate, a new property of serviced studio apartments located at the intersection of Nathan Road and Hillwood Road.
As noted by HKwalls co-founder Jason Dembski, the artist line-up for HKwalls AiR is intentionally dynamic and diverse, with each individual artist having a unique perspective and creative direction. Three of artists chosen for the residency, Go Hung, Espen Cook, and Amy Maria Tong are based in Hong Kong, while the fourth, Daisuke Tajima, is from Japan and will be staying at the Nate for one month during the residency.
Go Hung, a local sculpture artist and former HKwalls festival artist, uses his art to highlight the various social issues that plagues Hong Kong and the world as whole. Using cardboard and other materials collected from the streets, his finished pieces are ‘littered’ back onto the streets for public viewing; his practice being a metaphor for the wasteful consumerist culture he currently resides in. “I have been using cardboard a lot as my main material to produce street sculptures, but I’ve also been feeling guilty being a competitor with people who need them to survive” he remarked. In response, Go Hung will attempt to produce a new body of work made using discarded plastic straps, juxtaposing the destitute nature of his art against the affluent neighborhood it finds itself in.
Espen Cook is a Norwegian visual artist and DJ based in Hong Kong. Founder of music and culture initiative ‘Club Kowloon’, Espen mainly focuses on painting but has experimented with various mediums and materials. His art is made by gathering impressions and drawing inspiration from different people and cultures. Espen’s Club Kowloon will also be responsible for curating music and DJs during public events at The Nate.
Amy Maria Tong is a Hong Kong artist known for her abstract still life and portraits. In contrast to those who believe still life painting is antiquated and boring, Amy finds her work liberating and derives great joy from exploring the relationship between organic subjects and light. Inspired by artists such as Matisse and Rauschenberg, her art is a riposte against the negative reputation of still life painting. “My work is an examination of the different forms still life takes. Putting them in different scenarios and altering them in an abstract form is a way to evoke emotion, questioning the fear mongering aspect of the alienating society we’ve found ourselves subjected to – willingly or not, and trying to bring a sense of calm juxtaposed by a still tranquil form” says Amy.
Last but not least, Daisuke Tajima is a multi-disciplinary artist hailing from Japan whose expertise ranges from paintings to sculptures but is most well-known for his drawings of imaginary cityscapes. Daisuke’s art is a unique combination of his manga-influenced style and his visual understanding of architecture, resulting in absurdly detailed and meticulous renderings.
HKwalls Hong Kong AiR will offer open studio days on the weekends, giving visitors a rare opportunity to observe up-close the artists’ work-space and practice. Finished works will be available for public viewing from July 27th onward.
HKwalls Hong Kong AiR as part of the Larger Picture:
Pop-up Co-Art Exhibition at the Nate by District15 Platforms
HKwalls Hong Kong AiR is part of a larger ‘Pop-up Co-Art Exhibition’ involving other creative organizations from Hong Kong who together will occupy all four floors of The Nate’s retail podium from July 11 to Aug 2. The Hong Kong Arts Collective, or HKARTS, is a newly formed group comprised of Hong Kong based artists, will be hosting a group exhibition to celebrate local artistic talent on 4/F of The Nate. Meanwhile, creative studio The Collective will present an interactive art installation called ‘Disappearing Species’, highlighting the many animals trapped in a precarious state, and live painting performances by Akiko Sakai and Hughie Doherty on the 3/F.
Located on the same floor as The Collective, Karen Chan and Frédéric Bussière will showcase a new interactive audio and light installation composed of “breathing” red light tubes trapped within a mesh network of embroidery titled ‘活-umière’.
An opening reception featuring all of the above will take place at The Nate on July 11th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. An additional opening event featuring the finished artwork from the HKwalls Hong Kong AiR will be hosted on July 20th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. All 4 floors of the Nate will be open to the public free of charge every weekend from July 13th until July 28th from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm, with a closing party on August 2nd from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Location:
The NATE
1/F – 4/F, 176 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
List of events:
Pop Up Co-Art Exhibition Opening Party
July 11th, 6:30pm to 9:30pm (PRESS TOUR 5:00pm. Click HERE to sign up)
– 1/F & 2/F HKwalls Hong Kong AiR Open Studio First Look
– 2/F Club Kowloon
– 3/F The Collective Disappearing Species & Live Painting Performance
– 3/F Karen Chan + Frédéric Bussière, 活-umière (living with the light)
– 4/F The Hong Kong Arts Collective, Home Grown Exhibition Opening
Pop Up Co-Art Exhibition Open to Public: Weekends from July 13th until July 28th, 12:00 pm
HKwalls Hong Kong AiR Exhibition Opening with Club Kowloon: Tuesday July 30th, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
HKWALLS Hong Kong AiR Exhibition: July 30 – Aug 2, 12-7pm
Pop-up Co-Art Exhibition Closing Party: Friday, August 2nd, 6:30pm to 9:30pm