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A large-scale art project entitled ArtAlive@Park, under the theme "City, Community, Nature", was officially opened today (December 23) at Kowloon Park, marking the launch of a series of exhibitions and activities at four public parks managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
Running for two months until February 28, 2011, "ArtAlive@Park" is presented by LCSD and organised by Art Promotion Office. Supporting organisations include the Education Bureau, Tourism Commission and Hong Kong Tourism Board. Artistic collaborators are Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Community Art Network was invited as the curatorial collaborator of the project. Programme collaborators include City Contemporary Dance Company and Fringe Club. Fotanian, Hong Kong Art Walk and JCCAC Artist Village are the network collaborators.
Speaking at today's opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young, said, "To bring art to the community and provide opportunities to nurture young artists have always been Government's objective in arts promotion."
The "Budding Winter" project organised by the Home Affairs Bureau last year has been renamed "ArtAlive@Park" this year. It will be held at Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Sha Tin Park and Tuen Mun Park.
Mr Young said that the project's aims were to showcase the diversified artworks created by local young artists as well as multi-faceted activities and performances by art groups towards the creation of an artistic ambience in the park.
Mr Young noted that apart from "ArtAlive@Park", the LCSD had also embarked on a number of public and community arts projects, including the "Park Deco" and "Art@Government Buildings". These projects will engage more artists and partners in creating more art display platforms and expand the audience base.
Also officiating at the opening ceremony were the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung; the Chairman of LCSD's Art Museum Advisory Panel, Mr Vincent Lo; the Chair Professor and Director of the Academy of Visual Arts, HKBU, Professor Wan Qingli; the Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK, Professor Harold Mok; the Associate Director of the School of Design, PolyU, Professor Henry Ma; the Acting Head of Department and Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, HKU, Mr Jonathan D Solomon; the Chairman of Yau Tsim Mong District Council, Mr Chung Kong-mo; the Vice Chairman of Central and Western District Council, Mr Stephen Chan; the Vice Chairman of Tuen Mun District Council, Mr Leung Kin-man; and the Chairman of the Culture, Sports and Community Development Committee of Sha Tin District Council, Mr Lam Hon-wah.
"ArtAlive@Park" features four exhibitions created by four local universities that speak to the very unique spatial design and styles of the different parks. The participating universities are HKBU, CUHK, PolyU and HKU.
By means of interactive installation works and improvised performances, students from HKBU's School of Visual Arts explore the relationships between city dwellers and nature with an exhibition themed "WishPark". Their works, named "Arc", "Take One Green", "Hug", "Hippy Cactus", "Giant Panda", "Time leaving, something missing", "Being with You" and "Walking Plants", attempt to engage the public in an intimate sharing of their stories, memories and experiences in parks.
Students from the CUHK's Department of Fine Art work in Sha Tin Park in an attempt to revitalise it. Their exhibits, including "Dash of Time", the works, "Berth", "The Spine Passerby", "Forgotten Memory", "Fantasy Sod" and "Soil of Spring", juxtapose images and activities of the park at different times, in a reminiscence of its many golden years shared with its neighbours and the general public alike.
Students from PolyU's School of Design present the interactive "GASP!" in Kowloon Park. Through a series of humorous yet educational art works, visitors can reflect critically on urban lifestyles and sustainable consumption as they enjoy the green environment of Kowloon Park's garden. They expect to raise public awareness of environmental issues as well. Their works include "Ents, the Talking Trees", "Rash Stomachs", "Hong Kong Hunt Trophies", "Poison Pop", "Bus Route Tangle", "Silent Protest", "Switch Obsession", "This Is the Air that Is", "Sewer Drinking Straws", "Biology Bowling", "GASP! Mask Parade", "Oil Spillover", "Real World Telescope", "Air Con Gym", "Che Gung Mill" and "The Changing Machine".
Students from HKU's Department of Architecture bring "Reforming Public Space" to Tuen Mun Park, where they have designed a landmark to attract visitors to walk, sit, play, rest and think within the space, attempting to turn it into a place that can be shared by the public. The installation works on display in the park include "Border Mender", "Fence Off", "What is a public park?" and "PixelWall".
During the exhibition period, a series of performances and activities will be held in the four parks to complement this art project. Performances include "Stories in the Park", which allows visitors to sit back in the soothing open air and listen to fascinating tales; "Games in the Park", which brings fun to visitors through playing group games together; "Sound in the Park", which presents concerts custom-made for each of the parks; Environmental Dance "DELT", which features dances that interact with the Park's environment; "Drum for Joy", which allows visitors to create a beat of their own by hitting drums and playing all kinds of percussion instruments; and "BIG DANCE", which spreads dance fever across the parks. In addition, there will be free public and school tours, and art shuttles taking visitors to view the art works at different parks.
For details of "ArtAlive@Park", please visit: www.artaliveatpark.hk or call the Art Promotion Office at 3101 2739 / 3101 2758.
Ends/Thursday, December 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:55
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