Female figures hold an enormous sway over Hong Kong’s art scene. Time Out profiles eight influential pioneers who have been tirelessly pushing the field forward. Portraits by Calvin Sit


Clara Cheung
Co-founder of C&G Artpartment

I have a simple, and rather generalised, statement: to make changes. And I believe many artists are doing it,” says Clara Cheung, sitting in C&G Artpartment, the gallery she co-founded with her husband in 2007. She may look modest and unassuming, but a mere glance at C&G’s past exhibitions suggests a much more quietly rebellious streak to the artist.

From the Beijing Olympics to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project, Cheung and co-founder/husband Gum Cheng have been finding their own ways to respond to socio-political topics – and with some success. Their sarcastic exhibition The Preview of New West Kowloon Exhibition Venue (2007), for instance, was visited by curious government officers from the Home Affairs Department. And since then, they have gone on to start International Sick Leave Day, an annual outdoor sketching day at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade that encourages the public to take a day off in the name of art.

“Actually, I don’t think [socio-politics and art] are distant from each other. As visual artists are trained to develop strong senses, we are particularly sensitive to social injustice,” says Cheung, who is also fond of making performance art and interactive artwork. “If we can make good use of [such sensitivity], we can let more people know about different social issues, and hopefully things will improve.”

C&G’s strongest socio-political statement may well be its very location. Sandwiched between a sushi bar and a grocery on Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Prince Edward, the art space is a pioneer in the art-bereft district. While Cheung explains that the location was chosen for its convenience and low rent, she can’t help adding: “Perhaps, to some extent, it’s [also] an ironic gesture towards the WKCD project.”

Winnie Chau

Need to know
Clara Cheung co-founded C&G Artpartment with fellow artist Gum Cheng in 2007. 3/F, 222 Sai Yeung Choi St South, Prince Edward;
www.candg-artpartment.com

Clara Cheung
Co-founder of C&G Artpartment

Choi Yan-chi
Artist and co-founder of 1a space

Katie de Tilly
Director of 10 Chancery Lane

Angela Li
Director of Contemporary by Angela Li

Joanne Ooi
Co-founder of Ooi Botos Gallery

Yana Peel
Co-director of Outset Contemporary Art Fund

Tiffany Pinkstone
Director of the Sovereign Art Foundation

Yeung Yang
Founder and executive director of soundpocket