THE PLANNER

Published: 12:00am, 1 Aug 2002

Culture

Saigon: Studios Of The South

Arch Angel Art argues that 'while many people are familiar with Hanoi-based artists, many of Vietnam's leading artists actually live and work in the freewheeling South. Saigon, renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975, is the true heart and centre of this creativity.' This group exhibition focuses on that area and includes the still lifes of Le Van Vuong, abstract works by Nguyen Tan Cuong, the charming female images of Nguyen Trung and Trinh Thanh Tung, Minh Duc's landscapes, Do Duy Tuan's shadowy, multi-layered paintings and Nguyen Thanh Son's bold mixed media images inspired by the mountainous tribal areas of his homeland. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Arch Angel Art, 38 Peel Street, Central. Tel: 2854 4255. Ends Sep 15

A Summer Selection

Galerie Du Monde joins the welter of summer exhibitions springing up in every corner of the arts scene with an exhibition of new paintings on canvas by popular Chinese artists Yu Ajun, Zhou Xiaoyu, Liu Changwan and Yin Yongchun. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun noon-5pm. Galerie Du Monde, 328 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway. Ends Aug 31

Face A Face

Gallery On Old Bailey pays tribute to portraiture with a stunning exhibition of Chinese artists. Xiao Qing and Yu Hanxi create portraits of vivid realism. Young artist Peng Weiheng takes a step beyond realism to emphasise character traits of his subjects - he captures the movement of facial expressions - and Li Yongqi uses blotches of colours and shapes to configure the human face in an abstract style. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-7pm. Sun noon-5pm. Gallery On Old Bailey, G/F and Basement, 17 Old Bailey Street, Central. Tel: 2869 7122. Ends Aug 15

The Early Years

Deborah Druick, a former creative director of Lane Crawford and now a full-time artist, exhibits 20 paintings and drawings that experiment with themes she explored while a young artist in Montreal, Canada. Druick takes the raster-dot process, which is used in print media, to create images in oils, woodblocks, mixed-media and drawings. The dots converge, overlap, recede and rise to the front, creating scenes that appear to be in a constant state of change. Music and film from her childhood add to this multimedia experience. Open by appointment. Red Dog Art Space, 3-4 Sun Street. Wan Chai. Information: 6126 5204. Ends August 4

Midsummer Exhibition

Paintings will be changed each week for the month of August in this exhibition which highlights the various types of oil paintings the gallery deals in. Avant-garde artists Zhu Liang and Inner Mongolia's Zhao Wenhua are matched by the expressionist portrait painter Li Guinan and pop-art influenced portrait artist Li Hongwei. The landscape artist known for his hutong scenes from Beijing - Zhang Guoning - is also featured. Mon-Sat 10.30am-7pm, Sun noon-6pm. Connoisseur Art Gallery, Shop G3, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1 Hollywood Road, Central. Tel: 2868 5358. Ends Aug 31

Extra-curricular

Sekhem

A new healing technique is introduced at the Reflections Bookshop And Resource Centre in Central on Saturday: sekhem. 'Like reiki, it is a channelled energy with a higher vibrational level,' explains workshop organiser and sekhem master, Ruby T Ong. 'It is considered to be the origin of all hands-on healing systems as it was taught in the very early temples of ancient Egypt, Lemuria and Atlantis.' The technique is said to work on physical, mental and emotional levels. Classes take place on Saturday and Aug 10 from 10am-5pm, in Cantonese and English. $1,650. To book a place call 2504 1333 or e-mail [email protected]

Angel Evening

Anne Hassett, also known as Acushla, is at the New Age Shop. Something of an angel expert (she has been seeing and working with angels all of her life), she believes the beings are drawing closer to mankind 'to encourage, guide and help us make the great evolutionary leap forward we are about to make'. Today, she leads a gathering in which she will teach about the nature of angels, various methods of connecting with specific arch angels and will take participants on a journey to meet their own guardian angels. Today, 7.15pm. $400. The New Age Shop, 7 Old Bailey Street, Central. Reservations are necessary, call 2810 8694 or e-mail [email protected]

Life Drawing Sessions

Artist and photographer Norm Yip has launched a series of life drawing sessions at his Sheung Wan space, Studio 8, every Saturday afternoon. Yip provides the model and those who wish to practise the art form are asked to bring their own art supplies. No previous experience is necessary. Saturday, 3pm-5pm. $120. To reserve a place e-mail [email protected] or call 9257 1937

Night Scene

Ladies Nights

If you are female, this is the evening to head out on the town. You'll be likely to get a free drink wherever you go. Liquid offers females free access to alcohol every Thursday. This recently launched Ladies Night is fast becoming one of the most popular and the R&B soundtrack makes a perfect accompaniment to drunken dance-floor strutting. Liquid, 1-5 Elgin Street, Central. Tel: 2517 3310. Over at Queens there are free cocktails for women, from 10pm until close. Queens Bar & Disco, 1/F Queens Theatre, Theatre Lane, Central. Tel: 2522 7773. Elsewhere, Club Ing is also slaking ladies' thirsts without charge. Men pay $160. Club Ing, 4/F Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, 1 Harbour View. Wan Chai. Tel: 2824 0523

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Urbtix/CityLine credit-

card booking: 2111 5999

Fringe: 2521 7251

CityLine: 2317 6666

TicketNet: 2312 9998

Ticketek: 3128 8288

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