Sun Museum helps Hong Kong artists shine in first exhibition at new location
Sun Museum’s founder talks about spotlighting lesser-known artists in an exhibition that fuses traditional and modern Chinese art styles
Diversity lies at the heart of “Hong Kong Paintings in Sai Yuen Lane”, Sun Museum’s first exhibition at its new site in the city’s Sai Ying Pun neighbourhood.
“I am sometimes asked: if you are a museum that promotes Chinese art, why not just focus on ink and ceramics? Why even touch oil painting?” says Chloe Suen, the museum’s founder.
“That’s because oil painting has become a huge part of Hong Kong and Chinese art and culture. This goes to show that we don’t have a strict definition of Chinese art. It’s about showcasing the diversity and the history of how things intertwined and have influenced one another.”
The group exhibition features 132 artworks from 92 Hong Kong artists ranging from fresh graduates to business professionals, for whom art is their passion.
“We aim to create a platform for artists who have been out of the spotlight, not just emerging or young talent,” says Suen, who has a master’s degree in museum studies from Harvard. “While some think we focus only on newcomers, that’s not true – we welcome artists of all ages.
