Art is a mirror of history and culture. The demolishing of Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate is the recent hot topic in town which is recognized as part of the collective memory shared by many. Being a well-known Hong Kong artist, Mr. Kong Kai Ming has spent numerous years in capturing almost every roads and every streets in Hong Kong from 1970’s to 1990’s. His sketches not only mirror the historical transformation and rapid development of Hong Kong, but also record the tremendous change of livelihood, fashion and even facial characteristics and hair style of Hong Kong people. These valuable sketches are not only artistic presentation, but also remarkable historical and cultural heritage of Hong Kong. In order to extend the spirit of the World Heritage Collection that has been exhibited last year, ArtLinks Asia and Harbour City is going to jointly present the ‘Past and Present of Hong Kong– Sketches Exhibition by Kong Kai Ming’ at Gallery by the Harbour from 11 June to 2 July 2009. Sixty sketches of Hong Kong by Mr. Kong will be exhibited to show his patriotic feeling for Hong Kong and invite spectators to compare the past scenes in the sketches with the recent living environment in Hong Kong.

Kong Kai Ming is a well-known local artist who was born in 1932 in Hong Kong. He has spent has whole life in painting and in 1995, he was made an honorary research fellow by the David C Lam Institute for East-West Studies. In the same year, he was appointed a consultant of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. In 2006, Kong was conferred the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in recognition of his five decades of contribution to art. The Award for Arts Achievement 2007 presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council marks Kong’s success.

Mr. Kong is best known for his sketches of Hong Kong street scenes. In more than 1,000 works, he recorded the historical transformation and rapid development of Hong Kong with a 5B pencil. Many albums of Kong’s art works are in the collections of institutions such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Baptist University. One of these albums, Paintings of Hong Kong Historic Landmarks, earned the commendation of the former Governor Hong Kong David Wilson and the former British Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, and is now kept in the libraries of both Government House and 10 Downing Street. Another album, Landmarks of Hong Kong, was recognized by Mr. Yim Shui Yuen, Museum Advisor of Capital Museum in Beijing and Former Chief Curator of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, as “a group of poems that sing praises to the realistic life of Hong Kong.”

The sixty selected sketches with brownish spots are not only a personal record of the time, but also a gift filled with emotions for those people who have lived through the decades. They are simple but sophisticated records of the streets, architectures, fashion and livelihoods of Hong Kong in the 70's and 90's.

“Past and Present of HK – Sketches Exhibition by Kong Kai Ming”
Date: 11 June – 2 July 2009
Time: 11:00am – 9:00pm
Venue: Gallery by the Harbour, Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui
Enquiry：+(852) 2988 8278