Freedom in expression – and there’s plenty in Hong Kong

Expression comes in a multitude of forms. We pop on our jaunty berets this month and look at artistic expression as the world celebrates art in its many inspiring manifestations. Cannes crooks its finger and Le French May embraces us à bras ouverts, and we indulge in the visual, auditory, tactile and even gustatory stimuli on offer.

There’s plenty to see around town, what with The Landmark’s transformation from shopping mall to art mecca from 9 to 26 May, showcasing works by Cecile Bart, Auguste Rodin, Salvadore Dali, Yayoi Kusama and Robert Indiana, while Art Basel offers hundreds of pieces from 23 to 26 May to satisfy our craving for contemporary art.

In the May issue of STYLE, our muse Tsai Ming-liang bids farewell to his filmmaking days, breaking boundaries and crossing media to paint a brighter future with newly acquired oils. In our exploration of rum, a spirit rapidly coming into its own among the whisky and cigar set, we discover how the secrets and history of this drink’s creation are revealed through the aromatic layers of flavour – a more subtle form of expression.

We also look at the articulation of sartorial beauty, from our glamorous, Hollywood themed fashion shoot to our jewellery story, which looks at interpretations of bejewelled beauty in decades past.

While we’re on the topic of stunning possessions, in our product section this month we round up some of the most elegant stationery products, feline-inspired accessories, luxurious sunglasses and beautiful timepieces inspired by – what else, art. Meanwhile, our popular Spend It column offers a whole new at-home theatre experience for movie lovers. It’s yours for a mere HK$10 million.

For those of you caught up in the artistic frenzy, we also look at the potentially overwhelming prospect of starting your own art collection: whose brain to pick, where to look and what it takes to curate a collection of works that speaks to your personality and tastes.