Conceptualised by MAP Office and Hong Kong Arts Cente’s  Laure Raibaut; and inspired by the research of Ho Chi-Minh City based artist Richard Streitmatter-Tran, the exhibition will unfold various ecological, social and political issues and legends around the Mekong and other liquid territories of South-east Asia.
 
Fact and fiction are two facets of interpretation that criss-cross and often overlap into grey areas. Our beliefs are very much influenced by cultural legends steeped in ancient folklore and mythologies, as well as by geographical positions and political dimensions. It has become widely accepted by most that within the ecosystem of mountains, oceans, jungles, and rivers are mysterious, curious beings that co-exist, mostly in harmony, with humankind.
 
The Mekong and its surrounding regions form such a liquid territory. Mekong – New Mythologies proposes to navigate and explore the unique specificities in relation to South-East Asia and its territorial waters, and to determine whether this dissemination of land is directing a new reading of contemporary art in the region.
 
For the first time in Hong Kong, this selection of works by 18 South East Asian artists and artist duos will form an archipelago radiating from the Mekong delta out towards the Pearl River Delta and the Philippines. Through the presentation of subjective histories between the artists and their environment, the exhibition takes a multi-pronged examination into how liquid geography reinvents the region’s borders, identity, historical sagas and its future. Holistically, this multi-media exhibition will form a programme where geography narrates a specific reading of this liquid territory through the eyes of the artists.
 
The exhibition Mekong – New Mythologies comprises sculpture, installations, projections, drawings and photographs. It will present new and existing works by: Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan (the Philippines), Cao Fei (China), Heman Chong (Singapore), Ho Tzu Nyen (Singapore), Naiza Khan (Pakistan), Aung Ko (Burma), Leang Seckon (Cambodia), Leung Chi Wo (Hong Kong), MAP Office (Hong Kong), David Medalla (the Philippines), Tuan Andrew Nguyen (Vietnam), Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier (Laos/UK), Dinh Q.Le (Vietnam), Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook (Thailand), Richard Streitmatter-Tran (Vietnam), Vandy Rattana (Cambodia), Samson Young (Hong Kong) and Robert Zhao Renhui (Singapore).
 
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue published by Children of the Mekong illustrating the artworks donated in support of the project of day care centres in Cebu, the Philippines.
 
The exhibition is made possible with the support of the participating artists and of 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Asia Art Archive, William Lim - Living Collection, Primo Marella Gallery, Pimali, Gene and Brian Sherman, Tyler Rollins Fine Art, Rossi & Rossi, STPI.
 
Exhibition Details
Mekong –  New Mythologies
Venue: Pao Galleries, 4-5/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre (2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Exhibition Period: 5–21 May 2017 (both dates inclusive)
Opening Hours: 12:00nn–8:00pm
Programme Enquiries: 2582 0200
Website: http://www.hkac.org.hk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HongKongArtsCentre/
*Free Admission
 
Photo Captions:
Image 01: (from left to right) Anne Denis-Blanchardon, Consul for Culture, Education & Science, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau; Andres S. Yuen, Chairman of the Board, Chairman of Le French May; Hamilton Ty Tang, Board of Governor of Hong Kong Arts Centre; Eric Berti, Eric Berti, Consul General, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau; Delphine Marguin, Head of the HK Chapter, Children of the Mekong; Laure Raibaut, Curator of the exhibition (Hong Kong Arts Centre)
 
Image 02: Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, InHabit (from the project Another Country Series), 2017 Collagraph, Collage, Copper plate on Saunders paper, 61 x 76.5 x 2.5 cm. Image courtesy of the artists, STPI (Singapore Tyler Print Institute) and Hong Kong Arts Centre

Image 03: Cao Fei (SL avatar: China Tracy), China Tracy Portrait 06, 2007, Digital print, 60 x 90 cm, Edition 1 of 8. Image courtesy of the artist, Vitamin Creative Space and Hong Kong Arts Centre

Image 04: Aung Ko, H.u.m.m.m.m., Thuye'dan village performance, upper Burma 2007, 2012, C-print still, 66.6 x 100 cm, Edition 2 of 3; and single channel video 9’10’’, Edition of 6 (exhibition copy). Image courtesy of the artist, Primo Marella Gallery and Hong Kong Arts Centre

Co-presenters: Hong Kong Arts Centre & Children of the Mekong
Associated project of Le French May