Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Hong Kong Art Basel Exhibition Reflects on City’s Transformation
HONG KONG – At Art Basel Hong Kong, painter Chow Chun-fai presents his new artworks, transporting viewers to the significant 1997 handover of the former British colony to Chinese rule. Displayed within the same exhibition center where this transformative moment unfolded, Chow’s art reflects on Hong Kong’s past and present.
Post-Colonial Shift and National Security Law
The city’s post-colonial development has undergone a dramatic change since 2020, coinciding with China’s imposition of a national security law that effectively suppressed dissent. This legislation spurred an exodus of middle-class families and young professionals, including artists, from a former Asian bastion of free expression to democratic nations such as Britain, Canada, Taiwan, and the U.S.
Artists Remain to Document Hong Kong
However, some individuals like Chow Chun-fai have chosen to remain, continuing to document their home city despite ambiguous boundaries. His pieces at Art Basel, opening to the public on Friday, revisit shared memories of Hong Kongers from the late 1990s and early 2000s – a period when many took pride in the Chinese financial hub’s dynamism and openness.
“During my art studies, I learned about numerous artists who confronted momentous eras. As we navigate such a significant period ourselves, I am committed to learning from it,” Chow stated in a pre-exhibition interview.
Chow Chun-fai’s Artistic Background
Outside art circles, Chow is recognized for his clever reinterpretations of classic film scenes featuring bilingual subtitles, prompting audiences to contemplate Hong Kong’s history and identity. His public profile also includes unsuccessful bids against pro-establishment candidates in the 2012 legislative election and the 2016 election committee race.
Art Basel Highlights: 1997 Handover and Key Events
Chow’s paintings at Art Basel revisit pivotal news events, ranging from the 1997 handover and overseas diplomatic trips by former top Chinese leaders to the jubilation surrounding China’s hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.
His works concentrate on major news stories covered by Sharon Cheung, a former journalist now serving as a local gallery director.
Revisiting Jiang Zemin and Media Interactions
A notable incident in 2000 saw then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin publicly chide Cheung for posing questions he deemed “too simple, sometimes naive.” Cheung had inquired whether Jiang’s support for then-Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa suggested an imperial-style appointment. One of Chow’s paintings depicts this encounter.
“Panda” Series Reflects a Different Era
Another series by Chow, titled “Panda,” portrays Jiang’s personality from a different perspective, capturing his lighthearted reaction to a question about pandas during a 2002 U.S. visit. He humorously replied in English, “I’m sorry, I am an electrical power engineer,” disclaiming expertise on pandas and referencing Confucian wisdom about acknowledging ignorance.
Chow explained his inclusion of this piece due to the recent panda craze in Hong Kong, sparked by the birth of panda twins last year. He believes Jiang’s response exemplifies the characteristics of Chinese leaders during that period.
Shift in Leadership Communication
Approximately two decades later, Chinese leaders no longer engage in such open dialogues with Hong Kong journalists. Last year, the Chinese government even discontinued the annual premier’s press conference, a rare occasion for top leaders to address journalist inquiries.
Increased Control in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, Beijing has intensified its control following the 2019 anti-government demonstrations. Numerous prominent pro-democracy activists have faced prosecution and imprisonment under the security law. Media outlets known for their critical reporting, Apple Daily and Stand News, were forced to close in 2021 following the arrests of their senior editors.
Chilling Effect on Cultural Sector
This tightening control has had a chilling effect across the cultural sector.
Impact on Film, Arts Funding and Book Censorship
In 2021, the government introduced revisions to its film censorship regulations citing national security concerns. Consequently, some filmmakers have refrained from screening their works in the city. Cultural projects diverging from government viewpoints have experienced funding cuts. Booksellers at the city’s book fair practice self-censorship, and in 2023, local libraries removed books related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing and certain political figures.
Art as a Space for Interpretation
Cheung, the director of SC Gallery, observed heightened caution in expressing opinions, but affirmed that neither she nor Chow would succumb to fear. She emphasized art’s capacity for interpretation, providing space for nuanced understanding.
“We’re not aiming to dictate a specific message. It’s more about individual interpretations derived from these images,” she elaborated.
Commitment to Witnessing Transformation
Chow reiterated his unwavering commitment to Hong Kong despite the city’s profound transformations, highlighting historical precedents of artists producing significant works amidst major societal shifts.
“Finding ourselves in this era of transformation, how could I, as a creative professional, not remain here to witness it firsthand?” Chow concluded.