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EMERGING YOUNG CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART HUA GALLERY
年輕的中國當代力量 HUA畫廊

Interview with Shanyan Fok

Q: What kind of gallerist do you want to be?

A: I want to be a gallerist who introduces fresh, inspiring and innovative Chinese contemporary art to the international art scene of London. It’s important that the art is honest and true to the artist’s emotions and ideals, and not commercial. I am looking to represent art that is raw, deep and meaningful.

Q: What makes you become a Chinese art dealer in UK?

A: I have always been passionate
about art, of all kind. Art is my passion, and I find inspiration from it. I love all types of art and artistic mediums – oil, works on paper, sculpture, installation, photography, design, dance, music, performing arts and etc. I have also been sensitive to and fascinated by
the important artistic movement happening in China over the past years. And having lived in London on and off for about seven years, I saw that
the London art market was missing a specialised gallery dedicated purely to promoting Chinese contemporary art. So, after having had careers in finance and the art world, I decided to combine my cultural heritage with my passion in art, and opened Hua Gallery.

Q: Do you have any plans to move back
to China or would you prefer to expand in UK in the future?

A: It is an international world these days 
and I currently live between Hong Kong and London. It is so easy to travel. For
now, I would like to focus on curating and exhibiting exciting shows at Hua Gallery in London, and at the same time, hope to gain access to international collectors worldwide.

Q: How is your gallery different from other Asian art gallery in London?

A: Hua Gallery is the only gallery in London that specialises in contemporary Chinese art. I hope to introduce the global art scene to emerging Chinese artists and also Chinese artists who may be locally established, but not recognised or known internationally.

Q: How do you select your artists in general? How do you choose which artist to work with?

A: I have developed strong relationships with my artists, and hope to build a Chinese contemporary art collection in my gallery that is different and inspirational. Every artist is chosen for his or her artistic individuality and creative energy.

Q: What about artists in China, do you find any difficulty in working with them in long distance?

A: Not at all. I travel frequently to Mainland China and Hong Kong. Also, with the ease of technology, communication is very easy and much more efficient these days.

Q: Do they have anything in common or they are all quite different?

A: I think the only thing they have in common is that they are all inspiring, individual, creative and emotive. All my artists’ works are different and original.

Q: Could you tell something about how you got to know an artist and how your working relationship has evolved?

A: I come across all my artists in many different occasions, through recommendations, introductions, artist shows, or on my many wonderful trips during which I visit hundreds of studios across China. I have visited or seen works by many, many Chinese contemporary artists, across China, Hong Kong, UK and overseas, and it is important to be selective. When I met Yi Xuan, it was by chance, but maybe fate had something to do with it. I was visiting another artist on a trip to Beijing, and just on the off chance he recommended that I visit the spacious studio belonging to Yi Xuan. Immediately I felt a powerful connection to his art. I visited him again several weeks later, only to feel more convinced of his raw talent. That was the beginning of a great working relationship, which resulted in my solo exhibition for him at Hua earlier this year. Trust is important, as is mutual support and goodwill. Of course, all of my working relationships remain strong and positive.

Q: Where do you find your artist?

A: All over the world. At the moment, three of my portfolio’s artists live in China. Several are currently living in London. One is currently living in America. But they all have a strong sense
of belonging when it comes to China, and a strong connection with their Chinese heritage, which is important, and this cultural influence shows in their art, on differing artistic levels.

Q: What kind of Chinese contemporary art is currently most sought-after in your gallery?

A: It varies. My first show for Yi Xuan was received very well.
His works are meditative with a strong sense of spirituality and thought. Han’s works are also popular; they are explosive and evocative splashes of colour on the canvas. Yang Guang’s works are beautiful contemporary landscapes of his memory, and appeal to a different audience.

Q: What makes a successful exhibition in your opinion?

A: I like an exhibition that moves the viewer fluidly from piece
to piece. The works look different but have a unifying theme. Technical skill is evident, but there is an original point of view and individuality. For me, displaying art that really pushes boundaries or changes perspectives or inspires the viewers is important. I want the audience is inspired by the art.

Q: Would you plan to do any art fairs?

A: Definitely, at some point.

 

採訪Hua畫廊霍尚欣女士

Q:你想成為一位怎樣的畫廊主呢?

A:我想介紹新穎的、充滿啓發性和獨創性強的中國當代藝術到國際藝壇。我認為藝術最重要的是反映並忠於藝術家誠摯的情感和理想,而不是商業化的產品。我所希望呈現的藝術是真實的,深刻的和有意義的。

Q:為什麼你會決定在英國開一家關注中國當代藝術的畫廊呢?

A: 我一直對藝術充滿激情,它也是我的靈感來源。我對所有藝術門類和表現形式都有興趣,油畫、素描、雕塑、裝置、攝影、設計、舞蹈、音樂、表演藝術等。我十分關注中國藝術界近年來的發展,也願意成為其中的一部分。我在倫敦大約呆了七年,我發現這裡還缺少一個專業的畫廊專門推廣中國當代藝術。所以在從事金融業和拍賣業之後,我決定結合自己對藝術的熱愛和文化傳承,開辦Hua畫廊。

Q:你有沒有回到中國或者在英國擴張的打算?

A:現在已經是一個國際化、全球化時代了,去哪裡都很方便。我目前較 多時間居住在香港和倫敦。現在我會著重於Hua畫廊在倫敦的展覽和未來發展,同時希望能够獲得來自世界各地收藏家的青睞。

Q:你認為Hua畫廊和其他在倫敦的亞洲藝術畫廊有什麼不同?

A: Hua畫廊是倫敦唯一一家只做中國當代藝術的畫廊。我希望能把中國的新興藝術家介紹到國際藝壇去。他們可能在國際上的聲望還不大,但是已經在中國小有成就了。

Q:你如何挑選藝術家作品呢?

A:我選擇的每一位藝術家都是基於他或她的藝術個性和創造力。我已經和我的藝術家建立了十分牢固的關係,我希望自己的畫廊可以建立起與眾不同的、鼓舞人心的藏品系列。

Q:你和那些長期住在中國的藝術家們有任何溝通上的困難嗎?

A:我覺得沒有。我會親自到中國大陸和香港去與藝術家進行面對面的交流, 所以溝通上沒有任何障礙。而且現代科技這麼發達,溝通是非常便捷的。

Q:你的藝術家有什麼共同點嗎?還是他們都不盡相同?

A:我覺得他們唯一的共同點是,他們的作品都是俱有啓發性的,個性鮮明的、創造性強和情感豐富的。我所有的藝術家的作品風格都是不同的, 也是獨具一格的。

Q:你能談談與藝術家認識並建立工作關係的故事嗎?

A:我通過很多不同的途徑認識藝術家,比如朋友推薦介紹或在展覽上發 掘,我還會親自去中國參觀數以百計的藝術家工作室,這是一個很重要的步驟。我在中國大陸、香港、英國和其他海外國家也都看到了非常多中國當代藝術家的作品。我遇到藝術家伊玄是非常偶然的,也許是命運的安排。當時我正在北京造訪另一位藝術家,他建議我去看看伊玄的工作室。看過他的作品後,我被他的作品震撼了。幾週之後我再次拜訪,便被他的才華深深吸引了。我們就這樣認識了,然後我便開始策劃伊玄在倫敦的第一個個展。我認為信任在建立工作關係上起著十分重要的作用,當然還有相互支持和理解。我和藝術家們的關係都是非常密切和要好的。

Q:你在哪裡找到你的藝術家?

A:在世界各地。目前正在展覽的三個藝術家都在中國生活,未來展覽的 是幾個居住在倫敦的中國藝術家。還有一個目前居住在美國。他們對中國的認知都有著不同程度的理解和詮釋,這也是與文化傳承分不開的,在他們的作品中都會有所體現。

Q:在你的畫廊裡什麼樣風格的作品最受歡迎?

A:每個人都有不一樣的看法。伊玄的首次個展受到很多好評,他的作品是關於冥想的啓發,俱有強烈的精神意味;韓中人的作品也很受歡迎,作品的色彩令人過目難忘,飛濺在畫布上筆觸非常有爆發力; 楊光的作品是關於他童年的美麗記憶和景觀,這些都吸引了不同的 觀眾。

Q:在你眼中,怎樣是一個成功的展覽?

A:我認為一個成功的展覽,觀者在視覺上和精神上的體驗應該是流暢的。作品看上去各不相同,但是主題是統一的。這不僅僅體現在技法上, 還體現在藝術本身的獨立性和原創性上。對我來說,藝術應該啓發觀者, 這也是做展覽時必須考慮的因素。

Q:你會參加藝術博覽會嗎?

A:肯定的。

 

 

Tips  小贴士

Unit 7B,
G/F, Albion Riverside 8 Hester Road, Battersea, London          SW11 4AX

+44 (0)20 7738 1215

www.hua-gallery.com

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