Art exhibitions to check out in Hong Kong this July

Audrey Hepburn by Bob Willoughby

Hong Kong has one of the world’s most diverse and renowned art scenes. Each month, new exhibitions come to the city from all around the world, showcasing both newbies and some of the most famous artists in the world. Don’t miss out on all the exciting exhibitions happening here this July! 

From Paris to Venice: A Photographic Journey: Willy Ronis

Photo: Willy Ronis

Famed French photographer Willy Ronis is known for his photographs of people going about their everyday activities, typically on the street. His lens is also described as highlighting social injustices and the underprivileged classes of society. His photos have the ability to beautifully capture specific moments in time. 

When: Until August 25

Where: The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), The University of Hong Kong, 90 Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam 

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition and the artist here

From Dusk Till Dawn: Sergey Melnitchenko

Photo: Sergey Melnitchenko

From Dusk Till Dawn is a solo exhibition of 88 images taken between 2015 and 2017 while photographer Sergey Melnitchenko was living in China as a nightclub dancer. The majority of the images are black-and-white, and they are described as showing Chinese society from the intimate perspective of an outsider, while the colour images focus more on Melnitchenko’s days as a dancer and the candid moments backstage. All of his images capture the lives of everyday people and the fleeting moments of everyday life. 

When: Until July 31 (Tuesday-Saturday) 

Where: F22 Foto Space, 5/F Amber Commercial Building, 70-74 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

Rebirth: Aruta Soup

Photo: Aruta Soup

Rebirth is the debut solo exhibition of Japanese artist Aruta Soup in Hong Kong, presented by Chopsticks, a collective of Japanese artists showing their work throughout different countries. The pop art muralist is known for mixing recognisable cartoon characters, dark humour and street culture in his art. 

When: Until July 17

Where: Lucie Chang Fine Arts, 26 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan 

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

Body and Senses: Fabio Modica & Æsa Björk: 

Photo: Fabio Modica

Body and Senses is a joint exhibition from Italian painter Fabio Modica and Icelandic contemporary glass artist Æsa Björk. Under the theme of the human body and sensory perceptions, the exhibition highlights a variety of media used by the artists to express emotional states and stimulate the senses. 

When: Until August 4 (Tuesday-Sunday)

Where: Whitestone Gallery, 7/F-8/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

Murakami vs Murakami: Takashi Murakami

Photo: Heison Ho/Hypebeast

Tai Kwun Contemporary is introducing a major survey exhibition, Murakami vs Murakamiby famed Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami. Check out our article on the exhibition here

When: Until September 1

Where: JC Contemporary & F Hall Studio, Block 17, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central 

Price: $75

Audrey: Bob Willoughby 

Photo: Bob Willoughby

Gathering 90 photographs of Audrey Hepburn by the world-renowned photographer Bob Willoughby, one for each year since her birth, this exhibition is especially worth seeing for the shots from the 1950s and ’60s, when Hepburn was at the height of her fame. Mixed in are stills from her most famous movies, as well as candid behind-the-scenes moments. 

When: Until July 27 (Tuesday-Saturday) 

Where: F11 Foto Museum, 11 Yuk Sau Street, Happy Valley 

Price: $50-$100

Read more about the exhibition here

Hand:Work II: McArthur Binion

Photo: McArthur Binion

This exhibition marks the first Asia shows for McArthur Binion, the 73-year-old American abstract minimalist, and spans three locations: in Seoul, and at both the Lehmann Maupin and Massimo De Carlo galleries in Hong Kong. (The former in Hong Kong wrapped up on July 5, but the Massimo De Carlo show is on through August.) Binion’s work here pushes into a new conceptual territory, expanding his repertoire to include performative self-portraiture. 

When: Until August 31 (Tuesday-Saturday) 

Where: Pedder Building, 3/F, 12 Pedder Street, Central

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibitions and the artist here

Marc Newson

Photo: Marc Newson

Newson originally started as a jeweller and silversmith, which has influenced the limited-edition furniture included in this exhibition. Using the ancient technique of Chinese cloisonné, he draws on the simple beauty of Asian art and design to blur the boundaries between sculpture, furniture and the decorative arts.

When: Until July 27

Where: Gagosian Gallery, 7/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

André Brasilier in Hong Kong 

Photo: André Brasilier

This solo exhibition celebrating French painter and printmaker André Brasilier’s 90th birthday focuses on natural beauty, taking inspiration from his love for the equestrian world, as well as his love for his wife and muse, Chantal. 

When: Until July 28

Where: Opera Gallery, W Place, 52 Wyndham Street, Central

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

Revelation: Pang Tao 

Photo: Pang Tao

Pang Tao is the daughter of two significant members of the Storm Society (Jue Lan She), a 1930s avant-garde art group based in Shanghai. She meticulously flattens the imagery of bronzeware from the Shang dynasty in a formal exploration that transcends decoration.

When: Until August 2 (Monday-Saturday) 

Where: Pearl Lam Galleries, 6/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central 

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

Bicycle Thieves 

Photo: Bicycle Thieves Exhibition

Curated by Hanlu Zhang, this exhibition is a collection of art from an international pool of submissions for Para Site’s annual Emerging Curators Programme. Exploring the fine line between sharing and stealing, Bicycle Thieves allows viewers to envision possibilities for alternative systems and diverse technological futures. 

When: Until September 1

Where: Para Site, 22/F, Wing Wah Industrial Building, 677 King’s Road, Quarry Bay

Price: Free

Read more about the exhibition here

In this Story: #culture / #art & design