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Representatives of international art institutions attending Spain's contemporary arts fair ARCOmadrid were briefed in Madrid on February 28 on Hong Kong's vibrant arts scene by renowned artist and curator Mr Isaac Leung, who took part in the event with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels).
ARCOmadrid is one of the largest contemporary art fairs in Europe, with more than 200 galleries from 30 countries. The event is being held from February 25 to today (March 1) and is celebrating its 34th edition this year.
Mr Leung, the Director of Videotage in Hong Kong and a researcher in art and culture, took part in two sessions of the XII Asian Maps Programme, a seminar organised at the fair every year by Spanish cultural organisation Casa Asia.
Mr Leung also gave his insights into the Hong Kong art scene today at a public session that had as its topic "The Post-Global Society and the New Art System". Participants discussed the idea of a post-global society and the post-museum era, at a time of great changes in the art system, art institutions and the art market. Also taking part were the Director of Tokyo Wonder Site, Mr Yusaku Imamura; the Director of the Seoul Museum of Art, Ms Kim Hong-hee; art historian and professor at the Winchester School of Art, London, Professor Jonathan Harris; the director of the art and globalisation programme at the National Institute for the History of Art, Paris, Ms Zahia Rahmani; the Director of Dia Projects, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Richard Streitmatter-Tran; the Director of the Vargas Museum, Manila, Professor Patrick D Flores; Beijing-based independent curator Mr Huang Du; and the artistic director of MAXXI, Rome, Mr Hou Hanru.
Speaking at a reception hosted by HKETO, Brussels, Deputy Representative Miss Drew Lai said that in recent years, Hong Kong has turned into a flourishing international cultural metropolis. Major international art galleries as well as smaller independent ones have flocked to the city. Art Basel Hong Kong, which will soon hold its 2015 edition on March 15 to 17, is a well-established event on the international art calendar.
Miss Lai said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is keen to provide an environment conducive to the diversified development of art and culture. PMQ and Comix Home Base are two examples of the successful transformation of heritage buildings into art hubs. The Government is also making a long-term, strategic investment in the form of the West Kowloon Cultural District.
"The jewel in the crown of this art district will be M+, Hong Kong's new museum for visual culture, focusing on 20th and 21st century art, design, architecture and the moving image," she said.
She noted that although M+ is still under construction, the M+ team is already very active, having embarked on a series of programmes and exhibitions in Hong Kong and abroad, including participation in the world-renowned Venice Biennale. Following the edition in 2013, M+ will present the work of a Hong Kong artist at the upcoming Venice Biennale in May.
About Videotage
Videotage is a leading non-profit organisation in Hong Kong focusing on the presentation, promotion, production and preservation of video and media art. Since 1986, Videotage has developed itself from an umbrella for media artists into a network of media art and culture for cross-disciplinary cultural productions, and a platform to facilitate international exchanges. With continuous support from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Videotage organises exhibitions, workshops, performances, artist-in-residencies and exchange programmes to bring media art closer to peoples' everyday life.
Ends/Sunday, March 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:36
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