Cover Cocomi (Photo: courtesy of Cocomi and French May)
Cocomi (Photo: courtesy of Cocomi and French May)
1 / 1
Following Art Basel in March and the Hong Kong Film Awards in April are more major arts occasions that bring a Grammy winner, the daughter of a movie star and other established artists to the city
Celebrating Mother’s Day the artsy way? Planning indoor activities on a rainy day? Or looking for new art pieces to decorate your home with? The month of May has a wide variety of cultural events to choose from.
For a start, the months-long French May festival has returned. It brings established international stars to Hong Kong, including flautist Cocomi, the daughter of Japanese actor Takuya Kimura, who will perform with Chinese piano virtuoso Niu Niu. There will also be exhibitions, stage musicals, concerts, breakdancing performance.
Speaking of stars in the music world, Eliane Elias, a two-time winner of both a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award, will be returning to Hong Kong for a one-night-only performance.
Another major art festival that will take place this month is the annual Affordable Art Fair, which features more than 95 exhibitors from Hong Kong and abroad this year. If that's not enough visual art for you, head to Chat or Juenjueng Gung for more exhibitions, where they spotlight American and Asian artists this month.
You might also like: 9 events you can’t miss in Hong Kong this May, from IU and 9m88’s concerts to a mental health panel by local athletes
1. French May
Above Cocomi (Photo: courtesy of French May)
Cocomi (Photo: courtesy of French May)
1 / 1
When: Until July 1
Where: Various locations
What: Organised by Association Culturelle France Hong Kong Limited, French May is an annual festival that celebrates French music, dance, theatre and visual art. This year’s event features some big names: the daughter of Japanese movie star Takuya Kimura, Cocomi, who is a model and flautist, will perform with Chinese piano virtuoso Niu Niu; Hong Kong actress Karena Lam, who is the festival’s ambassador, has worked with the Bibliothèque nationale de France to curate more than 230 black-and-white photographs by legendary photographers such as Fan Ho and William Klein for the M+ exhibition Blanc & Noir; and the musical Gaby Deslys celebrates the life of the titular music hall star whose influence can be seen in the performances of the likes of Lady Gaga and Mae West; and Lovetrain2020 by Emanuel Gat, a dance performance that celebrates the sounds and vibe of the eighties.
In case you missed: Karena Lam on the lack of gender equality in the local film industry, and her ambassadorships with French May and Hong Kong International Film Festival
2. Affordable Art Fair
Above Artwork by Joe Wong, who will be featured at the Affordable Art Fair 2024 (Photo: courtesy of AAF and the artist)
Artwork by Joe Wong, who will be featured at the Affordable Art Fair 2024 (Photo: courtesy of AAF and the artist)
1 / 1
When: from May 16 to 19
Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
What: The 11th edition of Art Basel’s more laidback younger sibling returns this month with the theme “I Am an Art Collector”. It will feature more than 95 exhibitors from Hong Kong and abroad, such as Australia, South Korea and Cyprus, who showcase contemporary artworks under HK$100,000. Highlights include local paper artist Joe Wong, who makes traditional craftsmanship relevant to modern viewers; and British-born, Hong Kong-based interior designer Sacha Yasumoto who captures the beauty of abandoned buildings in our city. As well as exhibitions, the fair will also feature performances and educational programmes.
3. Jazz Concert by Eliane Elias
Above Eliane Elias (Photo: courtesy of Eliane Elias)
Eliane Elias (Photo: courtesy of Eliane Elias)
1 / 1
When: May 28
Where: Hong Kong City Hall, Central
What: Eliane Elias, a two-time winner of both a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award for her jazz recordings, will make her Hong Kong debut this month. Specialising also in bossa nova, Brazilian and Latin jazz, the Brazilian musician will perform her greatest hits, including tracks from her latest album Quietude, alongside her long-time collaborators double bassist Marc Johnson, guitarist Leandro Pellegrino and drummer Rafael Barata.
4. Can We Squeeze Light from Light
Above Can We Squeeze Light from Light, like a Juice from a Lemon? (Image: courtesy of Juenjueng Gung and the artist)
Can We Squeeze Light from Light, like a Juice from a Lemon? (Image: courtesy of Juenjueng Gung and the artist)
1 / 1
When: Until May 19
Where: Juenjueng Gung, 1703 Max Trade Centre, 23 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon
What: After painstakingly crafting a unique art experience in Hong Kong titled She Told Me to Head to the Sea last year, Vaevae Chan is this year collaborating with American artist Jordan Kasey to present Can We Squeeze Light from Light, like a Juice from a Lemon? The artists explore the connection between light and motherhood through their different experiences that unexpectedly converged through a series of coincidences. Kasey channels her experience of being homebound for several months with her infant son, a time during which she explored the effects of sunbeams entering her dimly lit apartment. Meanwhile, Chan recreates scenes of a morning after having nightmares while contemplating rainbows refracted from her mother’s crystal collection. The pair were studio mates ten years ago in New York and are bringing their friendship full circle with this current show, which features sculptural installations, crystal arrangements, mirrors, projections, charcoal drawings and mural paintings.
5. Factory of Tomorrow
Above Factory of Tomorrow (Photo: courtesy of Chat)
Factory of Tomorrow (Photo: courtesy of Chat)
1 / 1
When: Until July 14
Where: Until July 14. The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan
What: The Centre for Heritage Art and Textile (CHAT) is celebrating its five-year anniversary with a special exhibition, Factory of Tomorrow, which charts the former textile mill-turned-art institution’s genealogy. The exhibition features works by 19 Asian artists, and reflects on the role that textiles have played in Hong Kong’s industrial past. Featuring a range of media, ranging from textile art and sculptures to immersive installations and videos, the artworks explore diverse perspectives on textile technology, materials and climate change. Participating artists include Ei Arakawa-Nash, Movana Chen, Ade Darmawan, Rui An Ho, Yin Xiuzhen and Song Dong. Popular Hong Kong artist Frog King will kick off the exhibition with a special performance.
6. Parisian Passages
When: from May 21 to July 31
Where: f22 Foto Space, The Peninsula Arcade, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
What: Parisian photographer Jean-Baptiste Millot captures the charm, elegance and craft of the historic architecture of his home city. In particular, he focuses on the glass-covered shopping arcades and walkways that made their debut in the 19th century Paris. Their designs come in a blend of neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Belle Époque styles which took Europe by storm.
7. The Book of Longing
Above A poster of The Book of Longing (Image: courtesy of Vivian Ip)
A poster of The Book of Longing (Image: courtesy of Vivian Ip)
1 / 1
When: from May 10 to 12
Where: Freespace, West Kowloon
What: Based on 22 out of 167 poems in the 2006 poetry collection The Book of Longing by Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, the musical, which has the same name as the book, combines poetry, ensemble music and projected images. It was put together by American composer and pianist Philip Glass, whose minimalist compositions made him one of the most influential composers of the twenty-first century.
The production will have its Hong Kong premiere this month, brought to the city by Mo Lai, known for directing the movie Band Four (2024), and local conductor Vivian Ip.
8. Les Fleurs du Mal
Above Les Fleurs du Mal (Image: courtesy of Alfie Leung and Artocrite Theater)
Les Fleurs du Mal (Image: courtesy of Alfie Leung and Artocrite Theater)
1 / 1
When: May 4 to 19
Where: Tsuen Wan Town Hall, 72 Tai Ho Road, Tsuen Wan
What: Theatre actor Birdy Wong Ching-yan, who received the Director of the Year award from the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong) for her work I Am Tree in 2023, stages a new play inspired by French poet Charles Baudelaire's poetry collection Les Fleurs du mal ("The Flowers of Evil" in French), written from 1840 until his death in 1867. Based on the 163 poems, Wong and her team retrace Baudelaire's childhood, family, love life and thoughts on society and invite the audience to reflect on the desires, beauty, darkness and meaning of life in the contemporary times.
9. Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival
When: from May 30 to 2 June
Where: M+ Cinema, West Kowloon
What: M+ Cinema's first festival dedicated to avant-garde films across eras is a four-day event offering screenings, exhibitions, performances, talks and workshops with artists and filmmakers from across Asia, including Wing Shya, Ruby Yang, Ellen Pau and Zhang Peili, among the names. It will also showcase works from the M+ Collections. It demonstrates and celebrates how visual and digital artists create moving images that offer alternative and overlooked voices in commercial and mainstream media.
10. The Art of Rejuvenation—Bach to Britten
When: May 15 to 19, 2024
Where: JC Cube, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
What: Musicus Society, a music-focused charity by cellist Trey Lee, presents the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) this month at the concert The Art of Rejuvenation—Bach to Bri. One of the most recorded chamber orchestras in the world which has appeared on Oscar-winning film soundtracks and numerous royal events, ECO will be performing English conductor Benjamin Britten’s music, alongside works by a list of composers including Gustav Holst, Edward Elgar and JS Bach.
Lee and ECO particularly chose the historic site of Tai Kwun for the performance to commemorate how Britten, who was ECO's first patron, oversaw a similar revival project of converting a former Victorian malt house into a concert hall.
NOW READ
Topics
