Cover Jean Sébastien Gerondeau, MC Tam, Xia Yu, Agnes Tam and Michel Lamunière at the Tatler Asia x Montblanc dinner (Photo: Billy Chan)
Jean Sébastien Gerondeau, MC Tam, Xia Yu, Agnes Tam and Michel Lamunière at the Tatler Asia x Montblanc dinner (Photo: Billy Chan)
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To raise a toast to Xia Yu’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, Tatler Asia and Montblanc hosted an intimate dinner attended by notable members of the art community
The art world is back in full swing this season. Coinciding with the opening of Art021 Hong Kong, last week, K11 Musea staged acclaimed Chinese painter Xia Yu’s first solo presentation, titled Golden Hour, in the city. Curated by Beijing-based gallery Hive Center for Contemporary Art’s director Laura Shao, it features more than 30 paintings by Yu.
To celebrate the occasion, Tatler Asia and Montblanc hosted a dinner at Saffron at the HKGTA Town Club, with the artist and Jean Sébastien Gerondeau, Montblanc’s South Asia president, in attendance. Notable members of the art community, such as Vicky Lam, Catherine Kwai, Edward Fung, Irene Chu and Queenie Rosita Law were among the VIPs in attendance.
Guests were treated to a meticulously crafted four-course meal by chef Gareth Packham, each dish thoughtfully paired with exquisite wines. The gastronomic adventure began with the effervescent notes of Bollinger champagne, setting a tone of luxury and refinement. As the night progressed, guests savoured the complexity of Chanson Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Combottes, a red Burgundy known for its elegance and depth. The white wine selection featured the prestigious Chanson Meursault, offering a perfect balance of richness and acidity to complement the culinary creations.
Montblanc also presented a small showcase of its new limited-edition fountain pens, inspired by 20th-century Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, who was the creator of the famous The Kiss painting. Guests marvelled at the intricate enamel details on the fountain pens, which are a part of the brand’s Masters of Art series.
Above Inside Tatler Asia and Montblanc’s celebratory dinner to honour Chinese artist Xia Yu
Shangliu Tatler editor-in-chief Fan Li in conversation with Xia Yu (Photo: Billy Chan)
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The highlight of the evening was an insightful fireside chat between Yu and Fan Li, Shangliu Tatler’s editor-in-chief. The artist shared his approach to art and his sources of inspiration.
Yu is known for developing his own kind of tempera paint; tempera is an ancient painting technique, in which dry pigments are mixed with a water-mixable medium, resulting in rich colours and textures. But Yu dials down the rich pigmentation to create a translucent—almost pixelated—aesthetic, reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink paintings. The artworks’ themes dwell on ordinary, everyday items and scenes from contemporary life that have universal resonance.
“Every Asian or Chinese artist needs to think about how and what they want to communicate to the world,” said the artist. “If you offer the same thing as what Western artists offer, then there’s no interaction, communication or exchange. It needs to be different.”
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