K11 Art Mall Presents Exhibition during Holiday Season to Promote Polar Conservation Featuring Hong Kong’s Largest Art Installation Themed on Polar Bear Rare Images and Footage from Dr Rebecca Lee’s Explorations Raises Awareness
(11 November 2013, Hong Kong) K11 Art Mall today unveiled Hong Kong’s largest-ever art installation themed on the polar bear, the highlight of Polar Power Love Our Planet,a large-scale art exhibition running from 13 November 2013 to 6 January 2014 during the year-end holiday season. Beijing-based design duo Fake Studio was commissioned by K11 Art Foundation (KAF) to create the 6.5-metre tall installation, with the aim of transforming Christmas into a season for reflecting on the impact of human activities on our precious planet. Also included in Polar Power Love Our Planet are: an exhibition of rare arctic photographs and footage by famed local explorer Dr. Rebecca Lee; Mood Indigo, Fake Studio’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong; a show of eco-themed works by Pengguin, a local design group; as well as free art and design workshops open to the public.
K11 Art Foundation (KAF) strives to be a sustainable incubating force for the development of art, design and creativity in support of K11’s core value of Art • People • Nature. “We commissioned Polar Power because we wanted to use art as a vehicle during the heart-warming holiday season to raise awareness of our impact on nature. Our hope is to transform Christmas into a time not only for sharing with friends and family, but also for thinking about how we can help protect nature. We are thrilled that Fake Studio has created such an engaging and spectacular installation,” said Mr Adrian Cheng, Chairman of K11 Art Foundation. “In addition, KAF’s reach extends to Shanghai’s K11 Art Mall where new media artist Liu Zhenchen presents his enigmatic Kaleidoscope – an endless combination of patterns from a kaleidoscope that will be projected on various locations at the mall, creating a festive and jovial atmosphere,” Cheng added.
Standing at 6.5 metres tall in the middle of K11 Piazza, Polar Power is an intricate metal structure in the shape of a polar bear with glowing UV light effects and a bright red heart. Located near the polar bear installation are two “iceberg” platforms, which will light up when someone steps onto it to make a pledge to help save the planet. Adding to the atmosphere, the polar bear’s bright red heart will turn and glow, backed by artificial snow effects and cool, elegant music at designated times during November and December. As shoppers pass by the Polar Power installation, a surprise message will flash across the giant TV wall above.
“We are honoured to be commissioned by K11 Art Foundation to present our work at such a meaningful exhibition. The polar bear has become an icon of the impact of global climate change on the arctic, which is why we chose it as the theme of our installation. Thanks to K11 Art Mall for hosting our first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, art and design lovers will also have a chance to encounter a number of our works that explore shapes and colours, as well as seasonal concepts like ‘joy’ and ‘gift’,” said Ms Fang Er, the founder member of Fake Studio.
To enable the public to learn more about the arctic environment and the importance of arctic conservation, K11 Art Mall worked with famed local explorer Dr Rebecca Lee for a multimedia presentation of rare images and footage from her excursions to the arctic region. The public will be able to see poignant images of polar bears and other iconic scenes from northernmost areas of the planet. Dr Lee has also prepared recorded messages about her encounters with polar bears and the importance of arctic conservation.
Giving the event a more global context, K11 has partnered with retailer brands from 10 different countries to present a journey of ten one-metre tall branded polar bear installations through which visitors can learn about the green policies and initiatives of the represented countries.
In addition to the Polar Power installation, K11 Art Mall will also host Mood Indigo, Fake Studio’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, as well as Green Wish!, an exhibition of works by local design duo Pengguin using the traditional Christmas colours of red and green to symbolize ecological crisis and their hope for a greener planet.
During Polar Power Love Our Planet, K11 Art Mall will also present two free art and design workshops. In Upcycled Paper Bowtie Workshop, local designer Mary Wrong will guide participants in creating handcrafted bowtie accessories with old newspapers. Participants of Upcycling Ukulele Workshop, on the other hand, will learn from Permanenze, a local design group, how to make a ukulele using materials they bring to the workshop.
Shopper looking for a more traditional experience of Christmas can visit Museum Context, a vintage style Christmas art museum featuring a unique collection of traditional games, retro toys, gifts and vintage and antique pieces, complete with a 6-metre tall traditional Scottish style Christmas tree adorned with close to 250 pieces of Museum Context 1745 Map of the World globe baubles and around 250 pieces of bright red diamond shaped ornament in the same style of the heart of the Polar Power installation.
In addition to the exhibitions, shoppers can take part in K11 Art Mall’s Christmas Lucky Draw during this festive season from 29 November 2013 to 5 January 2014. Grand Prizes include a 9 Days 7 Nights on Celebrity Solstice for an Alaska Sawyer glacier fly cruise package for two persons by GeoTraveller, Hokkaido deluxe travel package by HIS Travel, jewellery diamond pendent by Chow Tai Fook and other festive treats with a total value of over HK$1.5 million.
Polar Power
Date: 13 November 2013 – 6 January 2014
Location: K11 Piazza
Artist: Fake Studio
Standing at 6.5m tall, Polar Power is an intricate metal structure in the shape of a polar bear with a bright red heart. With special UV light effect, the glowing polar bear stands at K11 Piazza alone, calling for all to take a different perspective on Christmas festivities. A symbol of Christmas and the frozen Arctic, the polar bear is an endangered species as its habitat is melting away due to global climate change. Fake Studio creates a thought-provoking image by taking this scenario from nature and wrapping it with Christmas festivity and joy to communicate an important message: that we all possess the power to change the world.
The giant polar bear also invites the public to make a pledge to help save the planet. Located near the polar bear installation are two “iceberg” platforms will light up as one steps on it to make a commitment to protecting the environment.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, the polar bear’s bright red heart will turn, reflecting heart-warming red lights to passers-by, coupled with snowing effects and elegant music at designated times during the November and December. Meanwhile, passers-by will receive a surprise greeting from the interactive TV wall. As visitors pass by the Piazza and the Polar Power installation, a surprise message will be displayed on the giant TV wall above.
Mood Indigo
Date: 8 November 2013 – 6 January 2014
Location: K11 art space (B207)
Artist: Fake Studio
Fake Studio is passionate about the complexity of geometry and colour orders, as well as individual perception of these complexities. Fake will present “Where and When”, “Urban Wallpaper”, “Will” and “Love Hotel”, which all stem from the exploration of shapes and patterns. Through wrapping found objects, Fake undertakes an intriguing deconstruction of shapes and colours to explore our consensus and disparity on such seasonal concepts as fantasy, joy, gift and holiday.
Green Wish!
Date: 12 November 2013 – 6 January 2014
Location: K11 Showcases (G/F – L2)
Artist: Pengguin
Global climate change is altering climate patterns on which all living things depend. As glaciers melt and weather becomes more extreme, our best Christmas wish is to slow down global climate change. To show the determination to do good for our planet, nine showcases are filled with the Christmas colours of red and green, where red represents eco crisis and green our hope.
Dr Rebecca Lee Photo Exhibition
Date: 13 November 2013 – 6 January 2014
Location: L2, K11 Art Mall
Artist: Dr Rebecca Lee
A showcase of rare photos taken by Dr Rebecca Lee during her trips to the North Pole, this exhibition is a reminder to all that our planet in dire straits and a call for everyone to think about how our actions affect the Earth.
Journey of the Polar Bear
Date: 13 November 2013 – 6 January 2014
Location: L1, K11 Art Mall
Aligning with the eco theme, K11 has partnered with retail brands to present a journey of ten one-metre tall branded polar bear installation through which visitors will learn about different countries’ green policies and initiatives. Each of the branded polar bear will represent the country that the brand originated from. All of the ten polar bears, along with information about their respective country’s green initiatives will be exhibited at K11 during Polar Power programme. Participating brands and their country of origin are:
7 for all mankind (USA)
Chow Tai Fook (China)
D-mop (UK)
Glacio / Goossens (Belgium)
Lloyd (USA)
Morellato (Italy)
Paul Lafayet (France)
Strellson (Switzerland)
Y3 (Japan)
K11 Art Foundation (Hong Kong)
Museum Context at K11
Date: 8 November 2013 – 5 January 2014
Location: Atrium
For a more traditional take on Christmas, shoppers will be delighted to visit Museum Context, a vintage style Christmas art museum featuring a unique collection of traditional games, retro toys, gifts and vintage and antique pieces, complete with a 6m tall traditional Scottish style Christmas tree adorned with close to 250 pieces of Museum Context 1745 Map of the World globe baubles and around 250 pieces of bright red diamond shaped ornament in the same style of the heart of the Polar Power installation.
In-mall Festivities
In addition to the exhibitions, shoppers can take part in K11 Art Mall’s Christmas Lucky Draw during this festive season from 29 November 2013 to 5 January 2014. Grand Prizes include a 9 Days 7 Nights on Celebrity Solstice for an Alaska Sawyer glacier fly cruise package for two persons by GeoTraveller, Hokkaido deluxe travel package by HIS Travel, jewellery diamond pendent by Chow Tai Fook and other festive treats with a total value of over HK$1.5 million. Shoppers can enter the “Power Draw” upon every spending of HK$1,000 for a chance to win one of the fabulous grand prizes. Shoppers spending HK$1,500 or more can join the “Play to Win” draw where they play an interactive digital game to win instant prizes.
To add to the festivities, K11 brings Cube Art – an electrifying acrobatic art performance by Polish performing artist Tomasz on [dates] at Piazza. For the musical-minded, there will be Christmas Carol Singing on [dates] and musiK11 x Time Out Big Night Out finale on 13 December featuring some of the best indie bands in Hong Kong.
For enquiries, please contact K11’s Customer Service Hotline (852) 3118 8070, refer to the posters in K11 or visit K11’s official website: www.k11.com.
The latest happenings at K11 Art Mall will also be publicised at K11 TV (www.K11TV.com).
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