“Random Is Beautiful” is an upcoming solo exhibition by KS, a lead designer from Hong Kong’s Sub Crew brand. In watercolor and ink drawings, KS explores what qualities stand out about an individual’s face.

The opening takes place Friday, August 6th, at the Above Second gallery in Sai Ying Pun. Sub Crew is the brand founded by Hong Kong actor Sam Lee, so you can expect a diverse crowd including clothing industry people in addition to the usual art lovers. Details about the opening below.

Random is Beautiful – an exhibition of watercolors by KS
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Opening from 6pm-10pm
Above Second Gallery
G/F, 31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

On Friday, July 9th, Hong Kong’s Above Second Gallery is launching an exciting solo exhibition featuring the artwork of MEGGS, a rising talent from Melbourne, Australia.

Having previously exhibited in Tokyo and London, the artist’s work often shows a masterful use of color and typography that can be traced back to influences including comic books, graffiti, and packaging design.

But there’s more to MEGGS’ work than just flashy images.

Similar to a frame in a comic book, there’s also a strong story-telling quality to his work. In his paintings, MEGGS succeeds in capturing expressive moments and conveying a split-second of action (as in the image above.)

In some ways, MEGGS, who hails from Melbourne, is a throwback to an earlier era. New York graffiti legends from the 1970′s and 80′s were heavily influenced by comic books. (We know this because cartoon characters and explosive lettering styles appeared all over the city’s subway cars during the time period!)

King For A Day

The subject of MEGGS’ exhibition opening on Friday, titled “King For A Day,” is a topic familiar to everyone in Hong Kong. It deals with society’s obsession with fame and celebrities. (One only needs to walk past a 7-11 here, to understand just how widespread interest in celebrity gossip is in this city.)

The exhibition is curated by May Wong, who, before co-founding Above Second, was the person behind Apostrophe Gallery.

A special after-party!

In addition to the opening at the gallery which starts at 6pm on Friday, Above Second is also holding a superhero themed after-party. The party takes place at Roxie and goes from 10 til midnight as an invitation / guest-list only event, opening up to the public after 12. (See below for how to get on the guest list!)

Recommended!

MEGGS – “King For A Day”
Friday, July 9th, 2010
Above Second Gallery
G/F, 31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

The opening is Friday, July 9th starting from 6pm. The show runs until August 4th, 2010

MEGGS – “King For A Day” after-party
Friday, July 9th, 2010, starting at 10pm.
Roxie
24-30 Ice House Street
Central, Hong Kong

From 10pm – 12 midnight, (open bar,) strictly by invitation only.
To get on the guest list, email: maymwong@gmail.com

After midnight: Roxie members: complimentary entry
People in superhero dress code: complimentary entry plus one free shot!
Non-Members and no costume: $250 (includes two drinks)

The artist known as Suitman is at it again. Famous for his iconic portraits in a stiff black suit, and a flair for creating cool installations, (such as his bodega booth and his colorful portable sound system,) Suitman is back with an entirely new character – Kim Young Ill.

Modeled after North Korea’s reclusive leader (Kim Jong Il,) Kim Young Ill will host a live talk show at the Diesel flagship store tonight, as well as oversee a special photo and video exhibition.

Based on his past performances, the event should be unique!

The invitation also boasts special guests, free food, and “lots of alcohol”.

Kim Young Ill
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Diesel Planet Store
20 Queens Road Central
Central, Hong Kong

7 to 9pm, FREE!

Have you ever taken a photo and discovered something unexpected in the background?

The images we’re talking about here are the result of a strange confluence of timing, angle and fate. In the blink of the shutter, a regular photo becomes something extraordinary.

In their latest exhibition, the Above Second gallery has teamed up with the site booooooom.com to bring you “Small Victories,” a show dedicated to these unintended, yet spectacular images.

The exhibition is made up of 4×6 photos submitted from around the world.

Above Second, on a roll?
With a quick succession of events, Above Second has been establishing itself as a venue for interesting concepts. The gallery has so far highlighted slightly off-beat urban art, as well as group photography exhibitions.

Above 2nd is aiming to do its part for Hong Kong’s artistic community as well. On Friday, May 28th, the gallery will be holding a meet-up for the city’s ‘creatives’ from 9pm until late.

“Small Victories” A Booooooom Project
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Above Second Gallery
31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
852 3483-7950

Art in HK meet-up
Friday, May 28th, 2010
9:00 pm til late
Above 2nd Gallery
31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

Eugene Kan, managing editor of the popular fashion site Hypebeast, has brought together eighteen individuals from different backgrounds to form a new photography exhibition titled ‘Day Job?‘.

The exhibition opens Friday, April 9th, at the new Above Second gallery in Sai Ying Pun.

What’s the show all about?

The title of the exhibit reflects the fact that none of the photographers included are photographers by day. In fact, Eugene selected people he has come into contact with over the years and the result is an interesting assortment of local and international contributors.

The photos include the work of Jeff Staple of Staple Design, Jon Warren of Vans, Jules Gayton of Leilow, Peter James Lee of Cassette Denim, Neek of Stussy, Ian Paley of Garbstore, Kobe Chen of Subcrew and JJ Lin of SMG, among others.

With the convenience and ubiquity of digital cameras, people with no official training are able to capture powerful images, or simply document things that they deem interesting.

One of the curator’s points is that people’s personality or individuality seeps into everything they do, even their random snapshots. These photos aren’t driven by profession, or shot for a particular agenda, but they are simply an extension of the individual’s ‘eye’.

“Day Job?” photo exhibition
Friday, April 9th, 2010
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Above Second gallery
31 Eastern Street (near 228 Queens Road West)
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

Simon Birch, an artist we have covered extensively on Hong Kong Hustle, is launching an ambitious new exhibition titled Hope and Glory on Thursday, April 8th.

The show will be spread out over 20,000 sq. feet – an enormous size in this land-scarce, densely packed city. (Some of you may already be familiar with the ArtisTree space as it was the site of last year’s excellent Vivienne Westwood retrospective.)

This show is billed as a “conceptual circus” and seeks to immerse the attendees in a multimedia experience. Although known primarily as a painter, Simon has experimented with additional art forms including sculpture, film, and even performance art.

What does he have in store this time?

The artist has grown increasingly more adventurous as his art takes on new forms. In fact, one of his projects even included renting a tiger!

His new exhibition includes a range of big-name creative collaborators who have put together a series of side-shows for the circus. They include: Valerie Doran, Paul Kember, anothermountainman, James Lavelle and UNKLE, Gary Gunn, LucyandBart, Florian Ma, Alvina Lee, Dr. Robert Peckham, Prodip, Bamboo Star, Laura Thomas, Clive Kirsten, Douglas Young, Cang Xin, Wing Shya, Eric Hu, Eddie Chung, and Jan Lam.

Simon’s last large exhibition at the Chancery Lane annex in Chai Wan was already running low on space. It’s exciting to think what he will conjure this time around given the additional landscape.

You can read previous stories on Simon Birch here, here, here and here.

Recommended

Simon Birch: Hope and Glory
Opens April 8th, and continues until May 30th, 2010
ArtisTree
1/F, Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, Island East
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Open daily from 10am to 8pm.
Free!

By MTR, get off at the Quarry Bay stop and take Exit A.

Answer: An art exhibition titled “Wham Bam, Thank You M’am” opening in Hong Kong!

Thursday, February 25th, marks the launch of Above Second, a new art gallery in Sai Ying Pun. Above Second is christening their space with a show by Wu Yue, a Paris-based illustrator who has worked with diverse personalities including Kid Cudi and Lebron James.

The exhibition is a collaboration with gallery co-founder, Jasper Wong. Jasper’s known for his use of the color pink, as well as for inserting Mr.T and Superman into his artwork. This should be interesting!

Above 2nd Gallery
“Wham Bam, Thank You M’am” featuring Wu Yu and Jasper Wong
Thursday, February 25th, from 6pm
31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
RSVP to: info@above-second.com

Will Barras, Jahan Loh, and Pat Lee at Garage Works

On Friday the 26th, London-based artist Will Barras will be participating in a live collaborative painting session alongside Taiwanese graffiti artist Jahan, and Wu Yue. The show takes place at Garage Works, also in Sai Ying Pun.

If you haven’t already, please check out the artist’s sites linked above. Each has a very different style and it will be interesting to witness how they paint together.

Pat Lee, well-known comic artist, will also be unveiling a new series of paintings at the event.

Garage Works gallery
Friday, February 26th, 7pm to 11
G/F, 257 Des Voeux Road West
Kush
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
RSVP to: jian.ko@garageworksindustries.com

“Untitled Enemies,” the new show by the Apostrophe Gallery, is opening up at The Peak Galleria this Wednesday. The exhibition includes work by a diverse group of artists including six from Hong Kong and seven from England, Australia and the U.S.. (There are a total of twenty-five contributors altogether!)

The collection boasts a wide variety of styles – but what’s the significance of the name – “Untitled Enemies”?

My take on the title is very different from the one included in the press release.

Often urban artists face unique hurtles in executing their work. As their art is exhibited illegally on the streets, rather than in a standard gallery space, it must exist as untitled! (There can’t be a plaque with detailed information hanging next to it!)

Part of the aura of street art is the mystery behind the artist. Who are these people that some would label vandals and enemies of the public? The fact that many of their projects aren’t sanctioned, that they’re done guerrilla-style during the middle of the night, leads to their status as “Untitled Enemies.”

Have a look at this short video from featured artists Meggs and Rone, and maybe you’ll understand!

Of the artists in the exhibition, there are definitely some standouts. The work of Maya Hayuk, for example, is built around intricate geometric patterns of color. Maya has collaborated with the infamous Barnstormers, a group who’ve painted a series of improvisational murals around the U.S..

Some of the other names involved are: Nicolas Ruston, Ben Allen, Pure Evil, Meggs, Rone, Jasper Wong, Nam Leung, Rex Koo, Computerhead, Vicky Lau and Innie Wong.

Apostrophe’s last exhibition included interesting illustrations, paintings and mixed-media work. You can have a look at that show here.

The gallery has done a good job of assembling relatively young artists and making their art available to new collectors. “Untitled Enemies” continues in this tradition by offering a series of signed limited edition prints.

Untitled Enemies
From October 21st to January 7th, 2010
G.O.D. Peak store
Shop 32-41, Level 2, The Peak Galleria Shopping Center
118 Peak Road, The Peak
Hong Kong

Here are two back-to-back art openings that may be interesting. The first, titled “Tangled,” takes place this Thursday in Central and features six artists united under the theme of hair! The venue? A hair salon on Glenealy Street.

The second exhibition, titled “Panic in Chai Wan,” features French-born artists L1ES ONE and YAZE, who both have graffiti influences in their work. The venue for their show is The Embassy, a large art space in Chai Wan Industrial City.

The opening party for Tangled is this Thursday, October 8th from 6pm to 10pm and features work by Emily Eldridge, Gabe Ostley, Haruka Ashida Ostley, Wesley Terpstra, Ashley Blakely Terpstra, and Rico Tsui.

Tangled
La Belle Salon
G/F, Shop No. 1, Glenealy Tower, 1 Glenealy Street
Central, Hong Kong
From October 8th to November 6th

The “Panic in Chai Wan” opening takes place on Friday the 9th, at 7pm in The Embassy. L1ES ONE is currently based in Hong Kong and has had several previous shows that you can read about here and here.

Panic In Chai Wan
Opens Friday, October 9th, starting at 7pm
The Embassy
3/F, Room 309, Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 2
70 Wing Tai Road
Chai Wan, Hong Kong

I was walking through Temple Street Night Market tonight, a spot known for souvenirs and knock-offs, when I noticed something new. As I passed by a stall that normally sells copies of posters from old Shanghai and canvases by Mainland artist Yue Minjun, I saw a different artist on display.

Hanging amidst signs that read “No Photos” were multiple reproductions of Banksy’s artwork! After walking a few steps past the stall, I decided it was Hustle-worthy, so I turned around and pulled out my camera.

The stall attendee must be used to this happening, because just as I started taking photos, the man came running up trying to block my picture…

These days it’s possible to get nearly anything copied. If you can furnish a sample, someone can make you a reproduction. Imitations aren’t simply limited to watches, clothing, and handbags, but also include things like furniture, hair care products and now even trendy “street” art!

In some ways the reproductions are a compliment – pirates do not gamble on inventory, they only copy things that will sell! On the other hand, it’s unfortunate that the artist isn’t compensated for his creations.

One could argue that this a sign that Banksy’s work has gone mainstream. Having his art included in books and attracting celebrity collectors is one thing, but being able to move pieces on the street is another.

What’s interesting to me is that in Hong Kong, bankers and pirates seem to share the same taste in art!