Shows featuring both local and international artists start the year with a bang

1. Wandering Colours and Light

Tatler Asia
Above Nancy Chu Woo, Symphony (2018). (Courtesy of the artist and Kwai Fung Hin)

This exhibition at Kwai Fung Hin showcases 35 recent works by local artist Nancy Chu Woo. Woo studied both Chinese and Western art for many years, earning a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University and learning traditional Chinese ink techniques from masters such as Yang Shanshen and Chao Shao-ang. These recent works combine methods from both traditions, mixing ink and gouache and fusing the smoky effect found in Chinese paintings with the bright colours and shadows found in Western works.

Colours and Light runs until January 16 at Kwai Fung Hin, G/F 20 Ice House Street, Central; +852 2580 0058; kwaifunghin.com

See also: 5 Contemporary Chinese Artists Inspired By Robert Rauschenberg

2. Crossing the Line

Tatler Asia
Above Marcel Dzama, Crossing the line (2018). (© Marcel Dzama. Courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner)

Canadian artist Marcel Dzama has impressed gallery-goers around the world with his fantastical drawings and paintings that are often inspired by mythology, folklore and fairytales. At this show, Dzama is revealing new drawings, dioramas and a film that were all inspired by a recent trip to Hong Kong. This exhibition will be his ninth show globally with David Zwirner but his first in Hong Kong.

Crossing the Line runs from January 22 to March 9 at David Zwirner, 5/F—6/F H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central; +852 2119 5900; davidzwirner.com

See also: Iconic Fashion Photography Debuts At ArtisTree in 2019

3. Tomoo Gokita

Tatler Asia
Above Tomoo Gokita, Untitled (2018). (© Tomoo Gokita. Courtesy of SHOP Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong)

Towards the end of last year, Tokyo-based Taka Ishii gallery opened its first outpost in Hong Kong, a space called Shop Taka Ishii Gallery near Star Street in Wanchai. Shop Taka Ishii Gallery’s inaugural exhibition is a show of new works and products created by cult Japanese artist Tomoo Gokita. Distributed throughout the store are t-shirts, LPs and other products designed by Gokita, while hanging on the walls are new paintings that continue Gokita’s signature method of erasing the faces of people in portraits.

Tomoo Gokita runs until March 16 at Shop Taka Ishii Gallery, Shop 4A & 4B, G/F Bo Fung Mansion, St. Francis Yard, Wanchai; +852 3619 0011; takaishiigallery.com

4. Green Spot

Tatler Asia
Above Ellen Altfest, Composition (2014-2015). (© Ellen Altfest. Photo © White Cube and Ben Westoby)

American artist Ellen Altfest might be inspired by real life and nature, but she renders her subjects in such a detailed manner—revealing pores and individual strands of hair typically imperceptible to the human eye—that her work often appears abstract. Her first solo exhibition in Asia showcases seven works painted between 2013 and 2017. 

Green Spot runs from January 11 to March 16 at White Cube Hong Kong, 50 Connaught Road, Central; +852 2952 2000; whitecube.com

5. Shek-O Sublime

Tatler Asia
Above Daphne Mandel, Shek-O Opera: Celebrating The Ephemeral (2018). (Courtesy of the artist)

Featuring the works of 20 artists who live in Hong Kong and Macau, this group exhibition at Gallery Exit is curated by Caroline Chiu. Lee Kit, Chris Huen Sin-kan, Daphné Mandel and Konstantin Bessmertny are just a few of the artists featured.

Shek-O Sublime runs from January 12 to March 9 at Gallery Exit, 3/F Blue Box Factory Building, 25 Hing Wo Street, Aberdeen; +852 2541 1299; galleryexit.com

6. Contagious Cities

Tatler Asia
Above Firenze Lai, Infection (2015). (Courtesy of the artist, the Wellcome Trust and Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts)

Organised by the Wellcome Trust, a UK-based charitable foundation, Contagious Cities is an international collaborative project marking the centenary of the 1918-19 flu pandemic that aims to kick-start conversations around preparedness for epidemics. Taking place in Hong Kong, New York and Geneva, the project incorporates exhibitions, artist residencies, broadcasts and other events. Hong Kong will see two exhibitions at Tai Kwun and projects at the Asia Art Archive and the Oi! art space, as well as the launch of an app by the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences to guide users along the city’s Taipingshan Medical Heritage Trail.

Contagious Cities is running across various venues around Hong Kong. Far Away, Too Close runs until April 22 at Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central; +852 3559 2600; taikwun.hk

See also: 5 Things To Know About Tai Kwun Centre For Heritage And Arts

7. Ellen Pau: What About Home Affairs?

Tatler Asia
Above Ellen Pau, Portrait (2018). (Courtesy of the artist and Para Site)

This is the first retrospective exhibition for local artist Ellen Pau, who is the co-founder of Videotage, Hong Kong’s oldest artist collective, and the founder of the Microwave International New Media Arts Festival. The show spans her career from the 1980s to the present, featuring video works, archives, unpublished photographs and reproductions of three major video installations.

Ellen Pau: What About Home Affairs? runs until February 17, 2019 at Para Site, 22/F Wing Wah Industrial Building, 677 King's Rd, Quarry Bay; +852 2517 4620; para-site.org.hk

See also: 5 Things To Know About Hong Kong Artist Ellen Pau

8. Gilbert & George

Tatler Asia
Above Gilbert & George, Beard Code (2016). (© Gilbert & George. Courtesy of Lehmann Maupin)

The boundary-breaking, convention-defying duo return to Hong Kong with a new exhibition. From nude self-portraits to graphic, street-art-inspired pieces addressing social taboos, no topic is too out there for Gilbert & George, whose works are founded on the concept of “art for all.”

Gilbert & George runs from January 10 to March 16 at Lehmann Maupin, 407 Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central; +852 2530 0025; lehmannmaupin.com

See also: KAWS: From Graffiti To Galerie Perrotin

9. Claire Tabouret: Born In Mirrors

Tatler Asia
Above Claire Tabouret, The Kiss (blue and red) (2018). (© Claire Tabouret. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin)

Los Angeles-based French artist Claire Tabouret is unveiling a series of new paintings at Perrotin in Hong Kong this month. All of these works feature couples, though in some paintings the couples appear very much in love while in others they are physically fighting. 

Claire Tabouret: Born In Mirrors runs from January 9 to February 23 at Perrotin, 15/F 50 Connaught Road Central; +852 3758 2180; perrotin.com

10. Between Spirit and Magic

Tatler Asia
Above Negar Ahkami, Birth Rite (2018). (Courtesy of the artist and Rossi & Rossi

Six female artists who live and work in the United States but trace their roots to India, Pakistan and Iran are featured in this group show at Rossi & Rossi. Although they all work in different media, their art is connected by the way it draws on traditions, materials and imagery from their ancestral home countries.

Between Spirit and Magic runs from January 26 to March 16 at Rossi & Rossi, 3C Yally Industrial Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang; +852 2575 9417; rossirossi.com

See also: Art Insider: Adriana Alvarez-Nichol

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