Evan Chow Talks Hong Kong Art Scene – Prestige Online

An avid art collector, managing partner of MCL Financial Group Evan Chow is recognized for his continuous contributions to Hong Kong’s art scene, known to work tirelessly to promote local art and support some of our city’s leading institutions.

The founder and managing director of Chow Enterprise Group discovered his passion for the arts at a young age. “Growing up surrounded by the Chinese works of art and ink paintings collection assembled by the older generations in the family, I was intrigued to start a collection of my own someday,” he says. “I’m open to art old and new, Asian and Western. I started collecting in the early 2010’s and I’m particularly drawn to geometric abstract and minimalistic art. I continue to explore and expand my collection with the help of my team even to this day.”

Chow is grateful for the family influence that opened his eyes to the infinite world of art and hopes to give back to the community he’s found so much joy in. He’s currently serving as a Board of Trustee at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. He’s also taken up various roles to steer development of art fairs and cultural institutions, such as the Asia Pacific Committee for the Centre Pompidou Paris, the Board at the Taipei Dangdai Art Fair and the Art Jakarta Board of Patrons.

It’s especially important for Chow to support young and emerging artists in his own city. Currently a Board of Governor at the Hong Kong Arts Centre and a member of the found patrons group at M+, he spearheads a multitude of art projects around Hong Kong. Most recently, collaboration with HSBC, the first Lead Sponsor of M+, sees Chow venture into the realm of digital art. “The HSBC Metaverse Gallery is a digital arena that showcases and integrates art and technology,” he explains. “Not only a global leader in financial services, HSBC also strives to stay at the forefront of promoting art and makes commitment to culture through innovation.

“The digital gallery is presenting three up and coming local artists and their exhilarating pieces with versatile style that speaks the essence of Hong Kong. Yeung Hok Tak, a painter, and Flyingpig, an illustrator, capture our beautiful cityscapes in vibrant colours while Wong Ping, who is best known for his multi-media works, wows with his animations.

“Through the Metaverse Gallery, HSBC offers an immersive art experience in the digital space that eliminates geographical limitations,” Chow continues. “It makes viewing art accessible to everyone. The digital gallery also allows visitors to learn more about the pieces when they click on respective works. Some may even come with digital animation. Virtual talk shows are in the planning, and this provides a platform for artists to share ideas and insights behind their art.”

Read Related Also: Karina Irby: Model, 33, reveals her inspiring reverse body transformation

With a strong belief that art institutions are the embodiment of culture, Chow has been a longstanding advocate for Hong Kong Art Centre, which held its 45th anniversary last year, and is thrilled by the opening of M+ in late 2021. “The role of institutions like M+ and HKAC is to act as the catalyst for growth of the art and cultural scene,” he says. “Not only do they work to empower our creative talents and unleash their potential to the fullest, they also serve and generate exposure, and are the key to create room for the art and cultural landscape to evolve.

“HKAC has been navigating the city’s artistic and cultural trajectory for more than four decades. From comics and public art to moving images and performing arts, the centre nurtures and supports artists while offering diversified and free art programs with the goal of making art available to the public.”

When bringing M+ into the conversation, Chow gets visibly excited: “As the city’s latest flagship location exhibiting and engaging Hong Kong’s art scene with a global perspective, M+ broadens our vision and constructs a distinct narrative that bridges Hong Kong to the world.

“As one of the founding patrons of the museum, it gives me even greater joy to see M+ hosting Kusama’s largest retrospective outside of Japan. The exhibition is a significant milestone marking the collaborative efforts between patrons, curators, and collectors. From early works to site-specific commissions, the magnitude of this exhibition transcends the other shows that ever took place at M+.”

When asked if he himself is a fan of Kusama’s art, the smile Chow wears as he speaks grows even bigger. “Kusama is undisputedly one of the most important female artists in the world, as well as in the long history of Asian Contemporary Art.” He enthuses. “As a seasoned collector, I trust it’s always important to address the artist’s notion and purposes behind their creation. We should always be looking at the relation between motifs and elements structured in the works themselves. The curatorial importance and art historical context should not be easily overlooked.

“Often known for her visually striking polka dots, Kusama’s works are in fact profoundly layered and contain great depth. These frantically created paintings, sculptures, and installations are manifestation of her intense emotions, be it joy, sorrow, pain, anxiety, or fear. These dots are the lens she uses to picture and document her life. These works provoke dialogues that allow viewers to see the world through her visions and become part of the journey. Through this perspective, one is going to get new inspiration whenever they look at a pumpkin, or a dotted painting again.”