Andrew Luk: Saudade Chandelier

EVENT DESCRIPTION

HART is delighted to launch a revitalised shopfront space located in the heart of Kennedy Town (Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield Road), showcasing Hong Kong artist Andrew Luk (b.1988, New Jersey, USA) latest work Saudade Chandelier (2023).

Luk’s Saudade Chandelier (2023) is a hauntingly evocative cipher that reflects the essence of Hong Kong, drawing inspiration from its unique geography. Informed by the coastal location and proximity of HART Haus G/F and Praya Kennedy Town, mountainous vistas, and the interplay of water systems, it weaves a cosmology rooted in the elemental rhythms of water, air, and light. Standing at two meters tall, this sculptural installation is an assemblage of up-cycled Taobao chandelier components, oyster shells, temple pinwheels, and ancestral altar light bulbs.

According to the artist, Luk perceives “Kennedy Town used to be a sleepy area at the edge of Hong Kong Island. I remember climbing on rocks along the coast near the Sai Wan Swimming Shed, being fascinated by paved over squatter settlements that felt like the ruins of Pompei, and exploring old colonial defensive structures. I typically try to offer some context, but ultimately let the work speak for itself. Audiences deserve the power to form interpretations if they so choose. To me it communicates conflicting hopes and apprehensions, but also a level of care. By orienting historic change out on a long enough timeline it’s possible to mediate a reassuring perspective.”

The artwork alludes to the primitive history of Hong Kong when coastal and boat communities flourished, engaging in fishing, salt harvesting, and oyster farming. Paying homage to ancestral roots deeply embedded in the landscape, the chandelier symbolises the impact of colonial occupation, as Hong Kong’s strategic coastal position and favourable oceanic trade routes transformed it from a regional outpost to a bustling international trading hub.

Bt appointment at atelier@thehart.com.hk

HART Haus G/F kept an old office interior, combining both industrial and shopfront characteristics to offer unconventional project opportunities. Coincides with HART’s social studio space on the 3/F, the space is extremely accessible via Kennedy Town MTR, neighbouring to University of Hong Kong, schools, and famous public housing estate Kwun Lung Lau. We truly believe that the uniqueness of placemaking will allow artists and community projects to take place, beyond the confines of traditional gallery experiences while inviting the neighborhood and wider community to actively participate in artistic endeavors.