An environmentally-focused exhibition showing works from 34 notable international and local artists will go on display at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum this summer to raise awareness for the anti-shark fin movement.
Conceived by Parkview Arts Action in partnership with conservation NGO WildAid, “On Sharks and Humanity” utilizes art to address the need for better marine and shark conservation.
Peter Knights, CEO of WildAid, said he hoped the “dramatic exhibition” and “the beauty of sharks” would inspire and educate the Hong Kong public “about the state of global shark populations”.
“Overfishing and the cruel and unsustainable shark fin trade that claims up to 73 million sharks annually are driven by consumption right here in Hong Kong. We hope more restaurants will stop serving shark fin soup and more people stop ordering it,” Knights said, echoing WildAid’s motto of “When the buying stops, the killing can too”.
The touring exhibition will run for two months at the Central museum, following well-received stops in Monaco, Moscow, Beijing and Singapore. (If we’re being honest, we’re surprised it took so long to come here, considering Hong Kong’s dubious reputation as the center of the international shark trade.)
The collection — which is designed to show the negative effects a dwindling shark population has on society and the marine ecosystem — features a variety of art forms, including contemporary sculpture, painting, film, photography, and poetry.
“This is one of the few exhibitions of its kind and it reflects the social responsibility of the artists, while demonstrating the relationship between art and society,” said Huang Du, the esteemed curator of “On Sharks and Humanity”, Senatus reports.
The exhibition features renowned artists from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Germany, and the United States.
For the first time in the exhibition’s three-year run, work from Hong Kong artists Peggy Chan and Professor Ho Siu-kee will be displayed. Chan, whose work traditionally explores the relationship between the individual, the city, and nature, will be exhibiting a collection titled “The Shore Beyond”, comprising an installation and paintings. Ho, who has been a celebrated figure of both the international and local art scene for over three decades, will showcase a work titled “Confessional”, which combines sculpture, performance and photography.
Educational tours, family programs and workshops led by Peggy Chan and WildAid ambassador/conservation photojournalist Alex Hofford will also be available.
What: ‘On Sharks and Humanity’ exhibition
When: 9:30am to 5:30pm (weekdays), 10am to 7pm (weekends/public holidays), Wednesday, June 28, 2017 to Friday, Sep. 29, 2017
Where: Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier No. 8, Man Kwong Street, Central (Google Maps)
Price: HKD30 for adults, HKD15 for students and seniors
Tickets: Here
