Galleries put new artists on show in SCMP Art Futures award
Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander of Pilar Corrias gallery won this year's SCMP Art Futures award at the city's biggest arts fair.
Impressing expert judges such as Serpentine Gallery co-director Hans Ulrich Obrist, Sikander's works came out best among 16 eclectic, young galleries on show.
The award goes to outstanding artists represented by galleries that are less than five years old. More than a dozen galleries from around the world were shortlisted for the award, including three local ones.
Sikander will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to design the front cover of Post Magazine. At the prize presentation ceremony, Obrist said the shortlist had 'many, many exciting entries', and that Sikander was 'a very special artist' and a worthy winner.
'This solo show of hers is very, very exciting. This is to recognise her for these new works, and also for the totality of her achievements.'
Pilar Corrias, director of the gallery, said she was honoured that their hard work was recognised.
Two other judges were editor and publisher of ArtAsiaPacific Elaine Ng and South China Morning Post arts editor Kevin Kwong.
Elsewhere on the arts scene, four arts troupes will take turns to give free performances and workshops from Saturday. They will take place in four community halls on Hong Kong Island as part of a one-year trial of community arts performance programmes.
The four art groups are DanceArt Hong Kong, Windpipe Chinese Ensemble, Class 7A Drama Group, and Golden Cantonese Opera.
The four troupes will be staging three or four workshops and performances each, depending on demand, at Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, Quarry Bay Community Hall, Wah Kwai Community Hall and Leighton Hill Community Hall.
The four districts on the island were chosen because they had established facilities. Other districts will see their own recreational activities on the themes of arts, sports, eco-tourism or social cohesion in the future, a spokesman said.
Florence Hui Hiu-fai, undersecretary for home affairs, said she hoped culture and the arts would grow in the community, until they eventually became part of people's everyday lives.
The first performance - in Cantonese - will be on Saturday by DanceArt. For tickets, contact the respective district offices: Central and Western District 3583 3215, Eastern District 2886 6676, Southern District 2551 0111 and Wan Chai District 2835 2003.
