Author: Tam Kar Wing

Ms Christy Chow, artist of “LABORLAND”, won the Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize 2017 with her artwork namely “De-stitching”. The work captures her deconstruction process of a shirt sewn together by a sweatshop worker in Bangladesh by removing 3,745 stitches in 4.5 hours. It pays tribute to the anonymous worker and questions the value of labour in the world of capitalism.

The awarded artwork is now being exhibited at Blindspot Gallery until 16 Dec 2017.

About Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize (HKHRAP)

Established in 2013 and organised by Justice Centre Hong Kong, HKHRAP aims to discover and encourage Hong Kong based artists to explore the state of human rights both at home and abroad through their artworks, raising the social awareness on the human rights issues. Themes of the past artworks covered the occupy movement, plight of refugees, homelessness, forced labour and ethnic minorities/LGBT rights.

Mr Chan Tze-woon, artist of “Faraway Warehouse” received overseas recognition once again and won the Ogawa Shinsuke Prize, the first prize under the New Asian Currents Awards of Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival with his documentary film “Yellowing”. The same film was also nominated as the Best Documentary in Golden Horse Awards of Taiwan last year. Taking Umbrella Movement as the theme, Mr Chan used first-hand perspective, recorded how some selected protesters felt, their ups-and-downs and trivia at the scene.

About Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF)

First held in 1989, YIDFF is the first international documentary film festival in Asia, which held biennially in Yamagata of Japan. It has 2 major competitions: International Competition and New Asian Currents. New Asian Currents competition program introducing emerging filmmakers from across Asia, has become one of the festival’s vibrant centers of attention as a meeting place of youthful energy in documentary production.

“ADC Artspace” Open Day

The “ADC Artspace” will open to public in South Island Art Day for exchange between artists and the public. Details are as follows:

Date:14 October 2017 (Saturday)

Opening hours: 12 noon – 8 p.m.

Venue: “ADC Artspace”, 12/F, Genesis, 33-35 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen(地圖)

Transportation: Exit B of MTR – Wong Chuk Hang Station

Visitors could enjoy free shuttle bus service travelling between Wong Chuk Hang and Tin Wan for visiting over 16 galleries, arts spaces and artist studios in Southern District. Activities including talks, exhibitions, performances and guided tours would be arranged in the district, providing opportunities for visitors to interact with local and international artists. (For details about South Island Art Day, please visit the website of South Island Cultural District http://www.sicd.com.hk)

Mr. Chan Tze Woon, artist of “Faraway Warehouse” was awarded the Hong Kong Arts Development Award 2016–Award for Young Artist (film) of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Mr. Chan’s creative pursuits feature Hong Kong political environment and social movements. Mr. Chan’s works are recognised for his personal style and experimental spirit, challenging the established perceptions of documentaries and dramatic films.

Mr. Chan created the debut mockumentary short, titled “The Aqueous Truth”, in 2013 which strengthened his determination to be an independent filmmaker. In 2014, the mockumentary style was re-curred in his second short film, “Being Rain: Representation and Will”, mirrored the political atmosphere of Hong Kong at that time using “conspiracy theory” which brought him the Best Creativity Award in Open Division, Local Competition in the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival and shortlisted in Open Division of the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards.

Mr. Chan put himself up to the challenge of making different films and produced his first full-length documentary, “Yellowing”, in 2016 using first-hand perspective, recorded how some selected protesters felt, their ups-and-downs and trivia at the scene. As the director was directly involved and experienced the movement with the selected protesters, “Yellowing” distinguished itself from other documentaries on the Umbrella Movement. The film was shortlisted for the Best Documentary of the Golden Horse Awards and participated in a number of international film festivals.

About the Hong Kong Arts Development Award

Mr. Kurt Tong, artist of “LightWell”, won the WMA Masters 2016/17 themed on “Mobility” with his photographic series namely “Threads of Sisterhood”.

The “Threads of Sisterhood” series is around Mak Ngan Yuk, the nanny who worked for Mr. Tong’s family for nearly 40 years. It combines new photographs, found photographs and several other mixed media pieces. It explores the story of comb up women, giving a voice to generations of unsung heroines who might otherwise be ignored or forgotten.

The awarded artwork is now being exhibited at Comix Home Base until 6 May 2017.

About WMA Masters

WMA Masters is a non-profit photography award with different theme every year aiming to nurture the growth of photography as an art form in Hong Kong, as well as foster community awareness on socially relevant issues of critical importance to Hong Kong.

Ms. Yuen So Ling, artist of “Stustudio”, won the Silver Prize with her ceramic artwork “Excavation” at the International Competition of Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale 2017 (GICB 2017). The competition aims at redefining the essence of ceramics by examining the established and traditional values of ceramic art and through artworks that mirror the modern trends and point to the future of the ceramic art. It is an international gateway for emerging artists to showcase their tremendous creativity. The artwork of Ms. Yuen is now exhibiting in the GICB 2017 until 9 October.

About GICB 2017
First held in 2001, GICB is an art event held every two years in South Korea. The theme of GICB 2017 is “Narrative_ Ode to Life”. It serves as a forum to study on the relationship between people and ceramics, and restore the values of ceramic culture by exploring people’s lives in every respect, including everyday living, dreams, history, culture, and politics through works of ceramic art, bringing the modern beauty of ceramic art to the public.