How an avant-garde post-war art exhibition of artists who worked in Paris after World War II changed a charity founder’s life

“The Art of Hope: New School of Paris” exhibition (2020-21) at Hong Kong art gallery Villepin showcased work by abstract artists of several nationalities who worked in the French capital after World War II.

Amanda Sun, founder and director of Hong Kong charity Arts for Good Foundation, which strives to promote social inclusion by exposing children from underprivileged backgrounds to art making and appreciation, tells Richard Lord how it changed her life.

Checking out galleries is a big part of my work. Villepin had this good collection of avant garde post-war art from Paris; it brought a different experience to Hong Kong.

It’s always interesting how you encounter a work that inspired you. It’s about life timing. The timing of this show was very interesting. I went through a dramatic personal and professional life change from 2019 to 2020.

I had just set up Arts for Good – I started planning it in 2019. Setting up a start-up in Hong Kong at that time was very challenging. I was always being asked, “What’s the good of art?” I knew it wasn’t going to take a therapeutic approach – that’s not my expertise.

I was asked this at a difficult time for Hong Kong and for my life. I was in a really dark stage; the split of society had also led to a splitting of my family. This exhibition opened my heart to looking at darkness.