Duddell’s is excited to announce its upcoming new exhibition ‘Another Pairs of Eyes’ on 4/F of Duddell’s, from 8 November 2019 to 8 March 2020. The exhibition, curated by Japanese artist-curator Yutaka Inagawa, will feature 28 artworks from the collection of Jehan Chu, Michael Xufu Huang, William Lim and CindyChua-Tay.
For Inagawa, collecting contemporary art and directing a well-curated restaurant can be similar. Both of them can be considered as the acts of mapping our world -- comprising multi-layered structures by utilising a variety of sources to draw on the past, present and future. These are sophisticated curatorial endeavours already. What if an artist-curator re-applies an overarching, or even humble, curatorial framework to these ‘curated’ content?Does this only create a nuisance, or is there the chance for multiple personas and webs of parallel interconnection (or fragmentation) to arise?
‘Another Pair of Eyes’ is Inagawa’s experiment on balancing both discreet and obvious protagonists resonates with a unique cultural cohesion for a kaleidoscopic outcome. He works with artworks from the collections, alongside Duddell’s existing elements. Paintings, prints, photography, sculptures and personal objects from the private collections are placed at Duddell’s to interact with its dishes, tableware, furniture and architectural/interior spatial considerations, all acting as agents for an immersive cultural experience. Guests are encouraged to take the important role as protagonists, bringing their own stories and histories. Together, all combine to form an orchestrated polyrhythm.
When selecting what artworks to include, Inagawa considers a holistic landscape that create a sense of new interconnection among the all protagonists within the collections, the restaurant/ bar environment and sculptural pedestal. Unlike the usual white cube space, the dominant décor and textures at Duddell’s make a chemical reaction with each artwork. ‘It is exciting to consider marginal areas of each protagonists and contents, as a rich estuary towards collective reality,’ said Inagawa, ‘The process is sort of like juggling with many elements and aspects, creating a dialogue between artwork and the architectural characteristics and décor.’
The four participating collectors, namely Jehan Chu, Michael Xufu Huang, William Lim and Cindy Chua-Tay, each contributed several artworks and objects from their private collections to the show. To them, the show is also about re-injecting new energy to the private collections, opening up the artworks by putting them in a different setting in a semi-public space.
‘Another Pair of Eyes’ is supported by Principle Art Sponsor Ruinart and Logistic Partner Helutrans. The exhibition is part of the year-round art programme at Duddell’s, which is sponsored by Ruinart. Open to all art enthusiasts and spearheaded by cultural leaders, the programme includes world class exhibitions curated by prominent art personalities as well as a continuous series of art talks, performances, film screenings and other events by Hong Kong’s cultural innovators.
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About the Participating Collectors
Jehan Chu: co-founder and managing partner at Kenetic / former art advisor / art collector since 2006 / member of the Director’s Circle of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art / Board member of Para Site
Michael Xufu Huang: trustee at the New Museum / named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style list in 2017 / co-founded M WOODS Museum / established his own X MUSEUM which will open in 2020 in Beijing
William Lim: award-winning architect / committee member of Gallery Advisory Committee for Asia Society / Museum Expert Advisers for Hong Kong’s Leisure & Cultural Department / member of advisory board for the Art Basel Cities initiative
Cindy Chua-Tay: Guggenheim Museum’s Board of Trustees in 2015 / first Asian board member for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation founded in 1937 / active patron of Platform Projects / received Patron of the Arts Award from the National Arts Council in Singapore (full bio available upon request)
About Duddell’s
Duddell’s is a cultural and social destination created for people who have an active appreciation of the arts. Founded by Yenn Wong, Duddell’s is neither museum nor gallery – it is an inspiring backdrop against which ideas are shared and developed, connecting art and people in a new way. Open to all art enthusiasts, Duddell’s features a year-round art programme spearheaded by cultural leaders. The programme includes world class exhibitions curated by prominent art personalities as well as a continuous series of art talks, performances, film screenings and other events by Hong Kong’s cultural innovators. With interiors as noteworthy as the art on its walls, entering Duddell’s feels like being welcomed into the home of a great art collector – one that also happens to have an in-house Michelin-starred Cantonese chef, a lush 2,000 square foot Garden Terrace, and sophisticated salon with artisanal cocktails and vintage champagne. Conceived as the perfect instrument to enable other events and experiences to happen, the interior architecture and design are by London-based Ilse Crawford - awarded AD Spain International Prize 2013 for Contribution and Influential Work in Architecture, Design and Interior Design. Duddell’s is operated by co-founder and entrepreneur Yenn Wong, founder of the hospitality based JIA Group.
