HONG KONG.- Art Next Expo 2017, the second edition of the art fair dedicated to emerging artists from around the world, will be held from October 6 to 9, 2017 at PMQ, Central. Around 100 artists will participate in the Expo and will be grouped under three categories: International Artists, Diversity and Special Project.
International Artists Series
More than 70 artists from 19 different countries and regions including Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, United Arabs Emirates and USA, will be showcasing their works and competing for the Art Next International Artists Awards. The professional judging panel of leading art experts will select the awardees at the Expo. Prizes include Art Next International Artists Awards in Gold, Silver and Bronze, a cash prize by Art Next’s Premier Sponsor 1O1O, Hong Kong’s leading mobile services provider, as well as a 3–month residency programme at Taipei Artist Village.
Diversity Series
This series will feature a diverse group of galleries, art organizations and artists including:
• South African gallery Danger Gevaar Ingozi will be exhibiting artworks that represent the creative force of a new generation of South African artists.
• Sponsored by Cheongsam Connect, Mitsuko Onodera, a Japanese illustrator and a big fan of Hong Kong culture will showcase works depicting the everyday life of our vibrant city. Half of the proceeds from sales of her works will be donated to the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong.
• The youngest exhibitors at Art Next Expo are 11-year-old Kenny Lau from Hong Kong and 14-year-old Murashko Gordey from Russia, who have already won numerous international art competitions. At Art Next, they will join hands with their tutors to showcase their latest works.
• Yuen Tai-yung, renowned Hong Kong calligrapher, designer and comic artist, will exhibit his new collection of portraits and caricatures.
• Lon Lee is a young illustrator and the Founder of Carrousel Studio. Her illustrations reflect her own life, as an imaginative illustrator, an adventurous traveller, and a friend who wishes to inspire others with joy.
• Horizon Gallery will present the artworks by Mediha Ting. Born in Belgium and raised in Hong Kong, she has studied art in the United States and the United Kingdom. The mixture of cultures has led her to express her identity through her art.
• V Art Space is an art collective formed by 7 fresh graduates from HKU Space Diploma in Visual Arts. They will showcase their distinctive artworks from ink paintings to acrylic art pieces.
• Sponsored by Art Next, the participation of Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong will hopefully help cultivate awareness for people living with disabilities through the arts.
Special Project Series: Next +
Next+ will include a series of special exhibitions curated by renowned curator Eric Leung with an aim to promote talented local artists. The exhibition is divided into three parts: Next Contemp, Next Special and Next Fun.
• Next Special: featuring a diverse portfolio of 2D and 3D works, including oil paintings, ink paitings, sculptures and mixed media, by Chan Ching Man, Chan Sim, Chan Wing Sang, Cheuk Ka Wai, Dirty Paper, Phillip Hui, Lau Siu Chung, Luk Chun Wing, Yiu Chi Leung, Elvis Yip and Zhang Xiaoli.
• Next Contemp: featuring multimedia installation works of sound and video of an experimental nature by Cheuk Wing Nam, Jess Lau and Andio Lai.
• Next Fun: featuring installations at the venue to make it fun and engaging for visitors by Margaret Chu, Vaan Ip and Angela Yuen.
On site programmes
A series of public art talks to be hosted by renowned artists, academics as well as art professionals will discuss issues pertaining to the development of contemporary art, including The Valuation of Art by Felita Hui, African Narratives in Printmaking by Lee Garakara, Bringing an Art Utopia to Life by Feng Boyi and Local vs Global: Cultivating Contemporary Arts by Kurt Chan, Wu Dar Kuen and Adam Budak. China’s pre-eminent scholar on the history of glassmaking, Dr Shelly Xue, will share with the audience how the European and Chinese traditions evolved and influenced each other. Besides, Art Next will organize Children Art Workshop and “Creativity is” Screening to share the joy of art. (Please refer to appendix for details.)
Judges of Art Next International Artists Awards include Adam Budak chief curator of Prague National Gallery, independent art curator Feng Boyi, renowned designer Dr. Kan Tai Keung, Hong Kong Baptist University Department of Visual Arts Adjunct Professor Dr. Tang Haichao, Dean of the Visual Arts and the chair of Doctoral Programme in Art Creation and Theory in Tainan National University of the Arts Professor Ava Pao-shia Hsueh.
