Pictured above is The Blue House by Choy Yat Chun Anthony, pen on paper, Wan Chai, 2014

SKETCH Hong Kong’s 2016 exhibition will open tomorrow, 1 July, at Pacific Place, presenting a fresh perspective on Hong Kong’s architectural and cultural heritage. The exhibition showcases 58 works of art, from sketches to watercolour paintings, that demonstrate the talent of a range of amateur artists, and they depict historical buildings all over the city, as well as restaurants, markets and traditional Hong Kong dishes.

SKETCH Hong Kong is an original initiative dreamed up by Calvin Hui and his team at Arts in Heritage Research. Hui is an avid supporter of art in Hong Kong: in addition to being the Founder and Chairman of Arts in Heritage Research, he is Co-Chairman and Director of Fine Art Asia, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of 3812 Contemporary Art Projects, and much more.

Fung Kin Fan’s Red Cover Cloth of the Fruit Market, watercolour on paper, Yau Ma Tei, 2016

“When I started Arts in Heritage Research, the mission and vision was to build awareness in local communities of Hong Kong heritage and culture,” says Hui. “My team and I did some brainstorming, and we found that sketching is a good activity: it’s easy to participate in, it’s very engaging. We can also spin off many different multi-dimensional products, book launches and exhibitions.”

Since its launch in 2014, SKETCH Hong Kong has taken sketching enthusiasts on cultural and sketching tours to sites all over Hong Kong, including Peng Chau, Sai Ying Pun, Lei Yue Mun, and many more. This year, the tours have taken a different route, zooming in on Hong Kong food and its cultural significance. This year’s food theme is the result of a unique programme sponsored by leading German home appliance brand Miele.

Tai Wing Wah Restaurant in Yuen Long, pencil on paper, by Irene Flanhardt, 2015

“We like to invest in initiatives that are a little bit different, and we like to give back to the local community,” says Richard Green, Miele’s Marketing Director. “Miele being quite involved in the food scene, we thought this programme would be a lovely way to reflect the old cooking techniques and heritage of Hong Kong cuisine.”

Estate’s Appearance, pencil on paper, Leung Shui Wan, Shatin 2014

Adds Hui, “Sometimes I think people forget our old, unique identity, they’re searching for it everywhere, and actually it’s all around us. This is our home. For me, SKETCH Hong Kong is about education, especially for the younger generation. We’ve grown up in this fast developing city, and a lot of our heritage and the city itself are being washed away because of development.”

Green agrees: “If there’s that recognition of Hong Kong’s unique identity through small projects like this, you do start to build and education and an awareness of how unique Hong Kong is.”

SKETCH Hong Kong Exhibition 2016 will run from 1 to 10 July 2016 at Level 2, Pacific Place (near Kelly & Walsh), 88 Queensway. From 15 to 30 July 2016, the exhibition will be on show at 3821 Gallery, G/F, 118 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun. Limited edition prints of each of the 58 sketches are available for sale at both exhibitions, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Hong Kong Society for Education in Art.

SKETCH Hong Kong
sketchhongkong.org.hk

Miele
miele.hk