Stair Culture

Stairs are as much a part of the culture of HK as temples and char siew.  Hong Kong’s steep stairs, sometimes called ‘ladder streets’ link 2 roads of 2 elevations together, allowing pedestrians to circumvent the larger roads. Some of these streets, such as Pottinger Street and Duddell Street, are protected, but most have not historic protection whatsoever.

Unlike the granite slabs that line Pottinger Street, Pound Lane is made of the ubiquitous concrete that lines the walkways of Hk.  Though not the most beautiful of the ‘ladder streets’, it is a remnant of old Hong Kong, where these streets where lined with businesses and homes alike &  commerce, living and people collided in the smallest of spaces.   There are over 1000 staircases in HK though Pound Lane is only one , it has been threatened with extinction by a proposed escalator, that will, I believe, change the not only the streetscape and the local environment, but also the character of the area as a whole.

My beloved Po Hing Fong, where EC is located, is lined with a basketball court, small businesses, a school and residences.   I love the quiet and peace of the street- so unlike anywhere else in HK.  I know I shouldn’t, as a small business owner, but I still get a thrill when someone says they have no idea where it is.  I love the fact that my location is a bit off the beaten track and has that pioneering feel. No doubt with the Pound Lane escalator, these idyllic, peaceful days will be a thing of the past.   Just check out the purple and yellow convenience store that has taken residence next to Cafe Loisl and you will see what I mean.

From the 14th June to the 21st June, come up to Top Zoo a few doors down from me on Po Hing Fong to look at the exhibition, Alternate Constructions, which explores stair  culture in Hong Kong.   The exhibition is curated by Melissa Cate Christ, an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Hong Kong and is based on the  design research of HKU students and faculty in the context of the proposed escalator along Pound Lane.

June 14-21, 2013 at Top Zoo,  66 Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan

11am-7pm daily

Opening reception: June 14, 6-9pm

Basquiat @Gagosian HK

Thanks once again to EC’s art expert, Molly Lukins Burke, who visited the Basquiat exhibition at the Gagosian.  Over to you, Molly:   

Hong Kong continues on its roll of firsts in the art world!  It started at the end of last year with the Hong Kong Museum of Art holding the largest Andy Warhol exhibition ever to come to Asia. Next came the coveted prize of hosting the world’s premier international art show, Art Basel, for the first time in the fair’s 43-year history.

And now we have the first exhibition of paintings by famed Neo-expressionist, Haitian-American artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who exploded onto the contemporary art scene in the 1980s.  The Gagosian Gallery is currently showing fifteen paintings by Basquiat that reflect his interest in creating works of art that are both complex and simple at the same time.  His colorful compositions powerfully express his critical opinions on race and society in the transformative 1980s in America.

Even twenty-five years after his untimely death at age 27, Basquiat continues to be very relevant.  His signature style of using both text and imagery together to express his views on life remains persuasive and important.  Just one month ago at the Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Art sale in New York, Basquiat’s Dustheads (1982) broke a world auction record for the artist, selling for $48.8 million USD.  Basquiat was one of 12 contemporary artists whose works were sold at the Christie’s auction, which brought in $495 million, the highest sales figure at any art auction.

Jean-Michel Basquiat will run at the Gagosian Gallery until August 10, 2013. 7/F Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central

About Molly Lukins Burke

Molly brings her love of the artistic and the eclectic to Hong Kong from New York City, where she was born and raised. On a professional level, Molly has a Master’s in Art History and has worked at auction houses (Sotheby’s and Christie’s) and art galleries in New York. Before moving to Hong Kong in 2012, Molly was working on the team drafting the Catalogue Raisonné for Jasper Johns, one of America’s most celebrated artists. Personally, Molly is thrilled to have landed in Asia’s cultural capital with her husband and two children, and is excited to explore all that Hong Kong has to offer in local and international art. 

Cool..gatsby jewels

I did enjoy seeing the Great Gatsby in 3D the other evening.   The movie was great but the jewels were even better.    Set designer,Catherine Martin, combed the Tiffany archives to find pieces that expressed the moods and feelings of the characters as well as the hedonistic period in time that the novel is set.   The jewels were all real and this had an effect in on how the characters moved and carried themselves.   Anyone who has ever worn truly beautiful jewels will know exactly how this feels!

Even the teaset used in the garden scene was inspired by the archives.  The rosewood handles, copper rivets and jade finials will ensure that you drink your tea in style.  I think it is around USD35000 for the set.

You can look at the Tiffany website for more Gatsby inspired designs.

Cool…green hues

The lushness of summer in Hong Kong has made me what to embrace all things green.  Symbolic of life, green is refreshing and uplifting.   Underused in interiors, an easy way to add some green  is to include green glass or a plant.  I love the simple graphic shape of  a glass bottle.   Green is also one of those colours where different shades look great together.  I think this is because we are used to looking at different shades in nature.   The interior of the restaurant, Monsieur Bleu in Paris is a good example of this.

And if you love colours like pink or red, green always looks amazing.

Cool…Malin Ohlsson

If you have time, pop into Eclectic Cool this month to view HK/Swedish jewellery artist, Malin Ohlsson‘s new collection.

Malin designs and hand makes her jewellery, right here in Hong Kong at local jewellery workshop, Hatton Studios in Sheung Wan.

Her designs reference her Scandinavian roots and are carefully conceived to be as individual as  the wearer.   They are beautifully crafted to fit perfectly on your body and suit your lifestyle.  Each piece can be custom made in your choice of silver or gold, and you can even add diamonds or other gemstones if you wish.

I ordered a beautiful necklace from the Homesickness collection of New South Wales, the state of Australia that I am from.  To most it looks like an abstract shape set with a champagne diamond but to me it is imbued with the feelings and memories of home.

Malin’s collection will be in store this June.

Cool…Ecozine

Have you checked out Ecozine HK?  It is a guide to everything eco in HK.   I know, most would ask does eco even exist in HK?  Though small, the Eco movement is growing and has some very dedicated followers.   From restaurants and organic food stores listings to ways to get involved in the eco movement, this is the site to visit.

The conference, Ecozine Live!, is a TED-style event where business leaders to artists to comedians have 15 minutes to entertain and inform you live.   You’ll also be able to sample some organic food by purveyors such as Beyond O2 and MANA!, and even the eco store, A Boy named Sue, is popping up!

If you are free today, head on down to the IFC

Date: Saturday, June 8th, 2013

Venue: Nomura, 30/F, Two IFC, 8 Finance Street, Central

Time: Registration 9:00am / Speakers & Performers 9:30am – 1:00pm and 2:15pm – 5:00pm

Afterparty: 5:00pm at RED IFC, includes a complimentary cocktail

Tickets: $300, includes a Dopper reusable water bottle (value $150) and Ecozine LIVE! tshirt

Information: info@ecozine.com or visit http://ecozine.com/article/ecozine-live

Registration & Tickets Page: http://worldenvironmentweek.eventbrite.hk

About the Speakers: http://ecozine.com/article/ecozine-live

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/Ecozinedotcom

Cool…rick owen’s home

One of the best stands at this year’s Maison was Rick Owen’s home collection.   Reknowed for his dark aesthetic, cuts and amazing fabrics, his interior collection was filled with fur, steel and wood.   His clothes are characterised by simple shapes that are comfortable to be , but with understated details.

His home in Paris is no different.  The location was formerly an office for Francois Mitterand and has been reimagined in his trademark greys and dark woods.  The only colour is the gold accents of some of the decorative pieces.   I love the unfinished walls, that contrast with some of the boiserie on the interior wall panels and the ethnic art pieces.   I would love to design an interior like this for a cool, hip guy…

Cool…The Chapmans @ White Cube

There’s a lot of art around at the moment in HK, it’s difficult to decide where to start.  Between the Spring Sales at Christie’s and Art Basel- don’t overlook the exhibitions at HK’s finest art galleries.   

One of the best is the latest show at White Cube of the work of Jake and Dino Chapman.  Having just stepped off a plane, I wasn’t able to make the artists’ talk but my good friend and EC’s resident art expert, Molly Lukins Burke, (you can read all about her in the bio below)  has been good enough to share her thoughts about the show.  

We are hoping that Molly will stick around EC and be on hand to answer all sorts of art related questions: from the latest art exhibits to collecting or even how to  approach viewing an art exhibit.   Over to you, Molly.

Dark is beautiful.  Horror can be funny.  Hell is all these things.  Those are the thoughts provoked by The Sum of all Evil (2012-13), the diorama installation of the British brothers, Jake and Dinos Chapman, now showing at the White Cube through August 31.

Inspired by Goya and heralding him as the first emerging modern artist to explore the human psyche, the Chapmans have composed Hell landscapes populated by Nazi soldiers mingling with the characters from the McDonald’s fast-food chain engaging in horrifying acts of violence, surrounded by piles of decapitated bodies, while being watched over by a God-like figure depicted as a male nude from the waist down wearing green Nikes.

While the scenery doesn’t seem aimed at endorsing violence or horror, it puts you face-to-face with the artists’ darkest (I hope) views, and makes you wonder whether the works are exalting evil, or perverting the viewer.  Either way, it’s moving.  Besides the Hell installation, the exhibition includes four smaller dioramas reflecting some of the same themes as The Sum of  all Evil.  The exhibition is a reminder that all that is beautiful is not also good.

About Molly Lukins Burke

Molly brings her love of the artistic and the eclectic to Hong Kong from New York City, where she was born and raised. On a professional level, Molly has a Master’s in Art History and has worked at auction houses (Sotheby’s and Christie’s) and art galleries in New York. Before moving to Hong Kong in 2012, Molly was working on the team drafting the Catalogue Raisonné for Jasper Johns, one of America’s most celebrated artists. Personally, Molly is thrilled to have landed in Asia’s cultural capital with her husband and two children, and is excited to explore all that Hong Kong has to offer in local and international art. 

The Sum of all Evil runs from May 22- Aug 31 at the White Cube, 50 Connaught Road, Central.

Open Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 7pm

Tidying up…top 3 tips

I am sure that some of you are well into your spring cleaning, or even finished.  What!  You haven’t started!  You should!

Feel guilty enough?  I have just moved so I have had to opportunity to really clean out my things, though my nearest and dearest would say that I still have ‘too much stuff’.  However, though I wouldn’t consider myself a particularly neat person, my house looks that way  and I keep that way by making sure that I have my gear organised and in their proper place.   Here are  three tips…

1. Get yourself some lucite containers.  these are great for holding makeup and office supplies as well as jewelry.  Make sure they are stackable. The best ones are from Muji .

2. Some things are too bulky to fit in a drawer and get left out to gather dust and generally look ugly.  A basket is a solution!  With air flow to keep odours at a minimum, baskets are not only good to look at, but practical.   If your home is minimal, check out the Muuto restore baskets to add that clean, contemporary look…

3. Concealed storage:  This will contain all your mess.  It is always worthwhile to get some built-ins made.  I have designed mine so I can take them with me when I move – I adjust them with extra doors and false panels if necessary.   If you can’t do custom made- IKEA has some good plain wardrobes.   I like to stick with plain white unless your budget extends to a fancy veneer.

Happy spring cleaning!