Contemporary Art: Re-shape 2023 Exhibition in Hong Kong
ART FOR EDUCATION
Organised by our Children of the Mekong office in Hong Kong, the RE-SHAPE contemporary art exhibition took place from April 20th to May 1st at SoHo House. It was a real success, thanks to the commitment of the delegation and the 42 participating artists who made a commitment to the children we support.
The Re-Shape exhibition brought together over 40 artists, some of whom have recently showcased their works at Art Basel and Art Central. These artists share a profound dedication to helping disadvantaged children. All the profit from the sale of these artworks will be used to fund our work in South-East Asia, specifically in Myanmar and the Philippines.
- 6th exhibition organised by the Hong Kong association as part of the French May Arts Festival and under the sponsorship of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau
- 42 exhibited artists
- Around 400 attendees on the opening night
- Over 100 works sold
- 9 partner galleries
- Over €100,000 in net profits for the association
INTERVIEW: DELPHINE CANARD-MOREAU AND CLAIRE ROCHE
Meet Delphine Canard-Moreau and Claire Roche, co-curators of the exhibition.
What is the theme of this exhibition?
The pandemic, geopolitical instability, social inequalities and the threat of climate change… All these factors motivate us to rethink of the way we live and perceive the world. Artists, who are constantly reinventing their creative techniques and expression to share their emotions and convictions, can help us do that.
As a multimedia and intercultural art exhibition, RE-SHAPE is an invitation to see things from a different perspective, to reinvent a better world. The artworks that the artists share for the exhibition give us hope despite the challenges we face.
RE-SHAPE resonates with Children of the Mekong’s mission to provide disadvantaged children with learning and development opportunities to help them pursue their path and, in doing so, RE-SHAPE their future.
How did you approach the project?
We wanted to build an exhibition full of hope and energy, combining introspection and openness to the outside world. We sought to bring together innovative, deeply personal yet universal artistic visions that rethink a more responsible, more open, more conscious world…
Our selection primarily consists of a collection of our favourite pieces and encounters with galleries and artists whose work has deeply touched us, challenged us and inspired us (Delphine is a collector who explores art fairs, galleries and exhibitions with an insatiable curiosity, Claire has developed a growing interest in art and photography, which she has been exploring for over 30 years from one continent to another).
The artists who have been supporting Children of the Mekong for several years responded enthusiastically and gave us their interpretation of the theme ‘RE-SHAPE’.
All these artists and galleries have generously agreed to make a donation to support Children of the Mekong, and to take part in the adventure. We extend our gratitude to them for their kind contribution.
Which projects will benefit from the sale of the artworks?
All the profits from the sales of this exhibition will be directly allocated to 3 projects:
- A program of eight pre-schools near Cebu, Philippines, where around a hundred children aged 1 to 6, whose parents work at the recycling centres, are cared for during the day.
- “Centres” in Myanmar, which provide a caring after-school environment for children, enabling them to study and develop in a secure, and emotional setting. The centres prevent them from being recruited by military militias or left to fend for themselves.
- A student centre in Cebu, Philippines that annually takes in and supports around 50 students from very poor families.
This RE-SHAPE exhibition was a great moment of joy! Meeting so many artists, galleries, sponsors, volunteers and buyers supporting Children of the Mekong with such enthusiasm is quite extraordinary!
This RE-SHAPE exhibition was a great moment of joy! Meeting so many artists, galleries, sponsors, volunteers and buyers supporting Children of the Mekong with such enthusiasm is quite extraordinary! This was the 6th time that Children of the Mekong Hong Kong to organise such an art exhibition – with the continued sponsorship of the French May festival, an institution in Hong Kong, along with the support of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau.
This year’s event will remain in our memories: abundant post-COVID energy, with artists from all over the world on the opening night, ever generous buyers and partners, and an explosive team of curators and volunteers! We had never raised so much money for the association in a single exhibition… We take immense pride in this accomplishment, along with Virginie Gustin and Aurore Felzine, who are both esteemed members of the association’s board!