In just a few short years Hong Kong has positioned herself smack bang at the centre of the art world – chokka with modern galleries and sitting pretty at the doorstep of east and west. In the lead-up to 2016 Art Week, we sat down with a few of the city’s leading characters to find out what’s on their radar and where they unwind after all that action. Jehan Chu is the Vice-Chairman at Para Site Gallery, a local space championing HK and international artists and host of fab talks and events.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Jehan Chu and I’m an Art Advisor with Vermillion Art Collections, helping collectors acquire and build art collections. In my volunteer capacity, I am the Vice-Chairman of Para Site, a leading non-profit art space, board member of Design Trust, a grant-making foundation, and a backer of Things that can happen, HK’s newest nonprofit art space.
Tell us more about the mission behind Para Site Gallery?
Para Site art space was started in 1996 by a group of local artists who needed space to show their art and took matters into their own hands. 20 years later, we have become a major force helping to articulate the conversation of contemporary art in Asia. Nearly half of the artists we show each year are from Hong Kong, while the rest range from young regional artists to legendary figures like Bruce Naumann and Robert Motherwell. Our mission is not only to show art, but to catalyse a community and dialogue at a high level around contemporary art.
Your thoughts on HK’s burgeoning art scene?
It’s great. It’s amazing. There should be more. We are a bit heavy on the commercial side, so I’m looking forward to the opening of M+ and Tai Kwun space, as well as other nonprofit projects to help balance out the community. It is great though, we are so lucky to be in Hong Kong at this particular moment in the art world.
What are some of the shows/artists you are most excited about seeing this year?
I’m very excited for Para Site’s upcoming show “Afterwork” which deals with issues of labor, identity and race. Given the violence in Mong Kok around the customs and rights of street hawkers in Hong Kong, I can’t think of a more relevant discussion. As the artists come from all over the world, I believe we may see that there are indeed patterns that emerge. In addition, Hong Kong artist Ocean Leung will be presenting his feature-length exhibition at Things that can happen in Sham Shui Po. Following his well-received intervention at the space last month, he will be re-entering and creating a full exhibition of his work at this residential flat turned art space.
One show of note will be “They Would Be Kings” at Sotheby’s S|2 Gallery where they will have a show curated by legendary Street Art ambassador Steve Lazarides (found Banksy, etc). I have contributed a few local flavour works by the King of Kowloon, Hong Kong’s own legendary street artist, including one work from his seminal 1997 exhibition at the Goethe Institut.
Where can you be found after-hours during art week?
I hope to be in bed at a reasonable hour, but we all know that’s not going to happen. You’ll find me at two dinners each night, very apologetic about leaving one of them early and arriving at one of them late, followed by The Pawn, or Ping Pong, or Duddell’s or late night nightcaps at the Grand Hyatt Champagne Bar, or in a loft in Chai Wan or Aberdeen.
Fantasy dinner party – which three artists would you invite and what would you serve?
Rikrit Tiravanija (Thailand), because he makes killer Thai food, and everyone loves Thai food. Felix Gonzales-Torres (USA/Cuba) because one of his works is a pile of candy, and we’ll need some sweets. Danh Vo (Vietnam/Netherlands), because he has his own series of Tequila and we’re going to need something to drink.
Afterwork opens at Para Site on Mar 18-May 29, the gallery is open 12-7pm Wed-Sun.
Para Site, 22/F, Wing Wah Industrial Building, 677 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. +852 2517 4620, para-site.org.hk
