AAA presents a series of programmes with some of the leading experts and practitioners in the field. 'Backroom Conversations' includes panel discussions and screenings that touch on a number of prevalent issues and offer a first-hand look into the contemporary art world today.
DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS - CHINA
Thursday 14th May | Room N111
2.30pm | The Rising Tide (2008) with introduction by Director & Producer Robert Adanto
The Rising Tide investigates China’s march toward the future through the words and work of some of its most recognized video artists and photographers.
**5.00pm | China Power: Art Now After Mao (2008) ** Please Note: There will not be director’s introduction
Set against a background of images of contemporary Chinese life, evocative landscapes and modern cityscapes, Getty presents a one hour film about China’s art scene shot on location in China, UK and Norway.
**6.30pm| From Jean-Paul Sartre to Teresa Teng: Contemporary Cantonese Art in the 1980s (2009) with introduction by Jane DeBevoise, Chair AAA Board of Directors
AAA premieres its’ documentary on the development of contemporary art in Southern China in the 1980s. The documentary considers the influx of material following Deng Xiaoping’s open-door policy and the power of reading through interviews with key artists, critics and curators.
PANEL DISCUSSION – Reinvesting in Contemporary Chinese Art
Friday 15th May| Room N106
4.00 – 6.00 pm | Johnson CHANG, Curator, 3rd Guangzhou Triennale & Director, Hanart TZ Gallery | HU Fang, Director, Vitamin Creative Space | QIU Anxiong, Artist | Uli SIGG Collector | Pauline YAO, Critic & Curator | Moderated by Philip TINARI, Critic & Curator
As we witness global recession hit, the relation of Chinese art to the global economy becomes more evident with galleries and individuals having to reassess their financial strategies and positions. On the flip side, we see the emergence of voices who welcome this correction in the market as an opportunity for ideas, quality and content to be nurtured over prices, commodity and spectacle. We ask key individuals in the field to reflect on the past decade, discuss the future of art production and circulation in China, and talk about the projects that excite them.
PANEL DISCUSSION - MUSEUM FOCUS
Saturday 16th May| Room N106
In light of major museum projects in Hong Kong and the region, AAA continues to consider issues raised at last year’s conference on the museum, this year, taking as our point of departure themes prevalent in contemporary art.
2.00 – 4.15pm | Art + Design
Ron ARAD, Founder, Ron Arad Studio | Defne AYAS, Co-Director of programme, Arthub | Lim Geun-jun Art and Design critic| Michael LIN, Artist | SIU King-chung, Assistant Professor, School of Design, HK Polytechnic University | Moderated by Charles MEREWETHER, Director 2006 Sydney Biennale
In recent years, the region has seen an increasing number of exhibitions exploring the crossover of art and design. As Hong Kong embarks on building M+, questions as to how to approach the interdisciplinary are raised. For this panel discussion we look at the ways in which the bridging of art and design are manifesting themselves; whether we need a new vocabulary to discuss the topic; and how museum strategies consider these recent developments.
4.45 – 6.15 pm | Participation, Collaboration & The Everyday
LEUNG Mee Ping, Artist | Daravuth LY, Co-Director, Reyum | Frances MORRIS, Head of Collections, International Art, Tate Modern | Hammad NASAR, Founder, Green Cardamom | Rirkrit TIRAVANIJA, Artist | Moderated by Vasif KORTUN, Director, Garanti Contemporary Art Center & Curator, Taipei Biennale 2008
In many regions of the world, where there isn’t a museum going public nor infrastructure, where the white cube is not definitive, “participation, collaboration and the everyday” are key in thinking about contemporary art practice and its’ public. At the same time, by bringing these projects into a formal museum structure, the very nature of the museum is transformed. AAA invites artists and experts to discuss these issues both as alternative and in relation to the museum.
PANEL DISCUSSION - Heritage Sites: the answer to Hong Kong’s arts needs?
Sunday 17th May| Room N106
4.00 – 5.30 pm | John BATTEN, Art Critic | KWAN Sheung Chi, Artist | **William WONG, Visiting Clore Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Urban Research Centre| William Y. YIU, Executive Director, Charities, of The Hong Kong Jockey Club | Ada WONG, Chair of Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture| Moderated by Phoebe WONG Head of Research+, AAA
The conversion of heritage sites into culture and arts venues in Hong Kong has never been more topical. While many would agree that Hong Kong lacks suitable art spaces, the debate needs to focus on content over hardware and diversity over single formula approach. In this panel we ask participants to consider existing sites, their position in shaping the arts and cultural discourse, and the use of heritage sites as art venues.
Registration: backroom@aaa.org.hk or 28151112 (please indicate the event)
SATELLITE EVENTS (PLEASE CONTACT ORGANIZERS DIRECTLY)
Friday 15th May | Room N101
6.30 pm | FINDERS, NOT KEEPERS! Cultural treasures belong in their country of origin
SPEAKERS FOR THE MOTION: Simon Jenkins Chairman, National Trust & Former Editor, The Times | Prof Jack Lohman Director, Museum of London | Sir David Tang Entrepreneur & Patron of the Arts
SPEAKERS AGAINST THE MOTION: Don Cohn Senior Editor, Art Asia Pacific | Lord Renfrew Archaeologist | Peter Watson Author & Historian. Moderated by CNN's award-winning anchor, Kristie Lu Stout
Tickets are HK$300. Please contact HK Ticketing by tel. at +852 31 288 288 or at www.hkticketing.com.
Sunday 17th May| Room N106
2.00 – 3.30 pm | Panel Discussion: Art, Landscapes and Territories
Gilberto Gonzalez Chief Coordinator, Canary Islands Biennial | Juan Manuel Palerm Artistic Director, Canary Islands Biennial | MAP Office Artists/Architects | Kacey Wong Artist and Architect | Moderated by Alvaro Rodriguez Fominaya Executive Director & Curator, Para/Site Art Space
Free of charge. For reservation and details, contact Sherona Chan at info@para-site.org.hk
**Amendments
