Cover Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Desert Ceremon (1994) (© Emily Kame Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency. Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2020)
We're letting you know the best art exhibitions to see this October—these 10 exhibitions showcase the best of various cultures and artistic disciplines

Gagosian: Desert Painters of Australia: Two Generations

Tatler Asia
Above Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri, Country And Rockholes Near The Olgas (2006) (© Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri/Copyright Agency. Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2020)

This exhibition dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Australian artists is the first of its kind ever held in Hong Kong.

The show introduces rare works by Aboriginal artists from across generations and various regions of the continent, including big names such as the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Makinti Napanangka and Bill “Whiskey” Tjapaltjarri, as well as living artists such as Yukultji Napangati, George Tjungurrayi and Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri.

Indigenous Australians are the longest surviving civilisation in history—their ancestry dates back more than 60,000 years. 

Until November 7. 7/F Pedder Building,12 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more at gagosian.com

Hauser & Wirth: Takesada Matsutani

Tatler Asia
Above Takesada Matsutani, Puffed up (2020) (Courtesy of Marc Domag and the artist)

A key member of the Gutai Art Association—the radical group that redefined art in post-war Japan by experimenting with unusual materials—Takesada Matsutani is most famous for his use of vinyl glue, which he employs to create bulbous, sensual forms reminiscent of human curves.

Since he moved to France in 1966, Matsutani has also worked extensively with graphite, building up individual strokes into vast expanses of metallic black graphite on mural-size paper. This exhibition includes new multimedia paintings, works on paper and a site-specific installation.

From October 29 to February 2021. 16-15/F, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more at hauserwirth.com

David Zwirner: William Eggleston

Tatler Asia
Above William Eggleston, Untitled (1973-1978) (Courtesy of Eggleston Artistic Trust and David Zwirner)

One of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, William Eggleston used colour film in his art at a time when only black-and-white images were shown in museums—colour was relegated to holiday snapshots and commercial advertising.

When he showed colour photography at the Museum of Modern Art in 1976, his show was condemned by legendary photographer Ansel Adams, but his poetic and almost sinister treatment of mundane subjects fascinated viewers.
 
This exhibition features photographs from the 1970s, many of which have never been exhibited before.
 
Until October 24. 5-6/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more at davidzwirner.com.hk

De Sarthe: Pearl Rolling Across the Floor

Tatler Asia
Above Liang Ban, Caged Bird (2019). (Courtesy of de Sarthe Gallery)

Beijing-based contemporary artist Liang Ban explores how mobile devices are influencing humanity today in a similar way to how ships, planes and cars caused seismic shifts in the 20th century.

Liang’s third solo show with de Sarthe features a new series of video works as well as sculptural and photographic installations that mirror how contemporary life is dominated by, in his words, “possessive technology”. For instance his video work Caged Bird, titled after Maya Angelou’s novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, depicts the social media platform Twitter’s bird icon attempting to flee the screen in vain.

Until November 14. 20/F Global Trade Square, 21 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. Find out more at desarthe.com

Hart Hall: Household Gods

Tatler Asia
Above From left: Wu Jiaru, Hart director Jeannie Wu, Nadim Abbas, Shane Aspergen, Tap Chan and curator Ying Kwok (Courtesy of HART)

The non-profit art organisation Hart is behind this group exhibition curated by Ying Kwok, presenting specially commissioned works by four Hong Kong-based artists: Nadim Abbas, Shane Aspegren, Tap Chan and Wu Jiaru. All four have taken part in Hart Social Studio, a programme that provides artists in Hong Kong with studio space in a former factory building.

The exhibition explores the relationship between people and their households, and natural and supernatural phenomena.

Until November 21. H Queen's, Shop 2, G/F, 80 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more at thehart.com.hk

Rossi & Rossi: Stone Talk

Tatler Asia
Above Elisa Sighicelli, Untitled 9161 (Courtesy of Rossi & Rossi)

Italian artist Elisa Sighicelli’s first solo show in Asia features a selection of photographs that scrutinise overlooked details of museum interiors and artworks from institution collections.

Her experimental works, including a photograph of a fragment of Aphrodite and the Farnese Bull printed on marble, challenge viewers to think about the effect of photography on our perception of materiality, and restore photographs’ physicality when our world is saturated with virtual images.

From October 3 to November 21. 6 Yip Fat Street, 3/F Yally Industrial Building, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. Find out more at rossirossi.com

See also: The Tatler Guide To Art Galleries In Wong Chuk Hang & Aberdeen

Simon Lee Gallery: Marnie Weber: The Sea Witch and Other Stories

Tatler Asia
Above Marnie Weber, Song of the Sea Witch (2020) (Courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery)

Los Angeles-based artist Marnie Weber’s art depicts folkloric realms filled with witches, spirits and mystical, anthropomorphised creatures. Weber works in multiple media including video, performance and sculpture, but her collages are the focus of this exhibition in Hong Kong. These thought-provoking dreamscapes delve into the human subconscious and explore themes of sex, drugs and death.

The exhibition coincides with the Busan Biennial, where Weber is presenting a major installation that includes her new film, Song of the Sea Witch.

Until October 31. 304, 3F The Pedder Building 12 Pedder Street, Hong Kong. Find out more at simonleegallery.com

Crafts on Peel: Imagine the Impossibilities: Bamboo

Tatler Asia
Above Courtesy of Crafts on Peel

Co-curated by Penelope Luk, the creative director of Crafts on Peel, and Benjamin Wang, a contemporary Taiwanese artisan, the first thematic exhibition hosted at this heritage-focused gallery is the fruit of its long-term research into contemporary bamboo craftsmanship in Asia. The show celebrates the reinvention of traditional bamboo crafts and explores the utilitarian elements, contemporary aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship of bamboo.

Each of the three sections draws attention to the natural features of the plant, the processes and historical contexts that have shaped our engagement with the material over thousands of years.

Until 31 December. 11 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong. Find out more at craftsonpeel.com

See also: Neighbourhood Guide: Where To Eat And Drink In Soho, Hong Kong

Axel Vervoordt Gallery: Jaromír Novotný: Just a Narrow Range of Possible Things

Tatler Asia
HyperFocal: 0
Above Jaromír Novotný, Untitled (2020) (Courtesy of the artist and Axel Vervoordt Gallery)

Czech artist Jaromír Novotný creates his distinctive pieces by pulling acrylic-painted polyester organza over wooden stretchers; the result is a semi-translucent material that reveals the frame beneath and the stitching of the canvas, encouraging viewers to look beyond the surface of things and see what lies beneath.

Novotný sometimes also inserts thread and paper behind the organza, adding to his works’ tactility and depth.

Until November 7. 21/F, Coda Designer Building, 62 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. Find out more at axel-vervoordt.com

Ben Brown: Don’t Let Money Change You

Tatler Asia
Above Hank Willis Thomas, 102 Five Hundred Euro Bills (Blue) (2019) (Courtesy of Ben Brown Fine Arts)

Following his London and Hong Kong shows in 2017 and 2018, New York-based artist Hank Willis Thomas introduces new work from his retroreflective series, created by hand-screen printing images of Warholian grids of currencies onto retroreflective vinyl sheeting, the industrial material used to make road signs visible in the dark.
 
Only through illuminating the works with a beam of light can the latent imagery be fully revealed. As the viewers take a photo with a flash, they are invited to become the image maker and reflect on how ubiquitous fictional symbols affect larger systems of economics.
 
Until October 3. 2/F, The Factory, 202, 1 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Find out more at benbrownfinearts.com

See also: Neighbourhood Guide: What To Eat, Drink And Do In Wong Chuk Hang

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