A passion for Chinese art stirs the soul

When art dealer Alice King was a child, among the visitors to her family home were two great Chinese artists. They were friends of her famous father, shipping magnate C.Y. Tung - and they made a lasting impression.

Although she did not realise it at the time, a deep-rooted love of Chinese art was developing at that young age - one which was to determine the course of her career.

Ms King can now look back on more than 20 years as a prominent dealer who has organised exhibitions all over the world. And when she does so, she is drawn back to the influence of her father.

In Hong Kong, she is perhaps best known for her family connections. Not only is she the eldest daughter of C.Y. Tung, but she is also the younger sister of the special administrative region's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

But on the world stage, it is her expertise in the art world, particularly in the promotion of contemporary Chinese abstract artists, which has brought her fame.

Her father, she says, opened her eyes to the world of art. The visits by painters Chang Da-chien and Pu Ru to the family home when she was a child were factors.

But she also recalls that in her school days, her father always encouraged her to visit art exhibitions. 'I didn't realise the benefits until I grew up,' she said. 'When I was young I always preferred Western paintings. It was only once I went abroad that I realised that the Chinese roots were very deep inside me. I started to appreciate Chinese art and painting.'