Myriad Shades of Jade: the Problem and Beauty of Celadon
Date: 16 August 2022 (Tuesday) Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm Venue: Online via Zoom Registration: required, free Speaker: Dr. Ruby Pui Yi Leung (Lecturer, Department of Art History, HKU) Medium: Cantonese, with some specific terms in English
Online Talk: Dr Baecker on M+ Sigg Collection
Date: 30 April 2022 (Saturday) Time: 10:30am – 11:30am (HK time) Venue: Online (zoom) Registration: required, free Museums in town had been closed for months and the cancelling of our museum visit back in January was then turned into this online talk. To help individuals form their own views when they encounter contemporary Chinese art, our guest speaker, Dr Angie Chang Baecker (Lecturer, Department of Art History, The University of Hong Kong) offers us her knowledge about the field, looking closely at the exhibition “From Revolution to Globalization” and the significance of the Sigg collection at M+ museum. She situated the show in the converging spatial complexes for contemporary art represented by the museum, and discussed how the exhibition’s reception has highlighted some of the contradictions inherent to the display of the Sigg collection.
Tiger Tails: Harnessing the Ferocity of the King of Animals in Early- to Middle-period Chinese Art
Date: 19 January 2022 (Wednesday) Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm (HK time) Venue: Online via Zoom Webinar Registration: required, free Originally planned as a hybrid talk, the event had to go online due to the tightened social distancing measures on campus, but we were delighted that over 90 participating individuals, local and abroad, were able to join the occasion. Our speaker Dr. Roslyn Hammers kindly endured the changes and gave a celebratory talk that brought in the felicitous Lunar New Year of the Tiger. Focusing on the representation of the tiger from early days to pre-Ming, she pointed out various roles of the tiger and related feline friends in Chinese painting and other media. The tiger, initially regarded as a fierce and terrifying foe, he or she could also be enlisted to serve as a protective guardian with apotropaic properties in art. The tiger appeared as a symbol emblazoned on paintings, clothing, doorways, tomb walls, and other places, visually lending his power to those who sought it. Her talk took a lighthearted look at the beauty of the tiger while at the same time considered the reconfigurations of its ferocity, a quality that is at the core of the tiger’s power and status as the king of the animals. This event is co-organised by HKUFAAA and the University’s Department of Art History Feedback "Thank you for such an interesting chat. Have a wonderful year of Tiger!" "Great talk, Roz."
Biennales: Theatre(s) of Global Art?
Date: 24 July 2021 Time: 11am-12:30pm Venue: Online via Zoom Webinar/ CPD2.42, Centennial Campus, HKU Registration: required for both face-to-face and online options, free Our Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Kathleen Wyma, shared her expert insights on “Biennales” with audience both in person and online on July 24, 2021. Dr. Wyma’s thought-provoking talk stimulated interesting discussions, exchange of ideas, and raised questions like whether the art world is becoming more spectacularized for consumption, or the world flattening to a more globalized connectedness. In looking at exhibitions precedents that dated to the nineteenth century, Dr Wyma helped us understand the ‘why’ including the contexts for contemporary art. She also shared her personal experience with the Kochi Biennale in India as an example of the biennales of the periphery. The event was co-organised by HKUFAAA and the University’s Department of Art History, and supported by the HKU Museum Society. Feedback "I enjoyed the talk this morning very much. It was very informative and thought provoking." "The talk is really enjoyable and informative, it would be great to have one or two more talks by Dr. Wyma on similar subjects to make it into a contemporary art talk series, would like to learn more." "I’ve actually been waiting for Dr Wyma to open her Biennale course for a long time - I think the last time she opened I was still in Year 1 - so I was really excited for this talk " "Kathleen is a very passionate speaker and educator. There’s so much to learn!" "The talk was very insightful… looking forward to more talks and events from the Alumni Association!"
Online Talk: Knowing Botticelli
Date: 17 November 2020 Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm Venue: Online (via Zoom) Registration: required; free This online talk aimed to complement the current exhibition “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Botticelli and His Times– Masterworks from the Uffizi” (open until 24 Feb 2021) at Hong Kong Museum of Art. Our speaker Dr Sim Hinman Wan, who teaches Italian Renaissance art and architecture at the Department of Art History, HKU, provided some contextual information for audience to further their understanding of Botticelli's works on display. Wan's talk covered famous works by this extraordinary Florentine artist and other pieces which were commissioned by the Medici family. There was an in depth discussion on the discourse of Botticelli as well. Feedback "Congratulations on a very successful zoom talk with Dr Wan yesterday. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot, so hopefully more prepared for my visit to the exhibition."