Hong Kong art lovers are in for a rare treat this spring as 17 masterpieces by Claude Monet, the “founder” of French Impressionism, go on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. Claude Monet: The Spirit of Place, which is on show until 11 July, is one of five events supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as part of Le French May, Hong Kong’s annual festival of French culture.
The exhibition includes artworks from French national museums and private collections - the first time these have been displayed in Hong Kong. Among them are the paintings Nymphéas and Effet de Printemps à Giverny, as well as pastels and tapestries. Visitors can gain a better understanding of the artist’s life and creative process by exploring an interactive learning area featuring recreations of Monet’s studio and garden.
This is the fifth year the Trust has been the major partner of Le French May, providing over HK$11 million in funding support. Speaking at the festival opening concert yesterday (5 May) the Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr Simon S O Ip said: “Le French May wonderfully embodies the diversity and cultural vibrancy of Hong Kong, which have always made our city such an enriching place in which to live and work. And it is through our support for Le French May, and for many other arts and cultural events, that the Jockey Club seeks to promote the arts at every level of the community and in every part of Hong Kong.”
Also officiating at the opening were Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam; Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Eric Berti; and Chairman of the Board of Le French May Andrew Yuen. Guests later enjoyed the opening concert Mozart in Love from Ensemble Pygmalion with soprano Sabine Devieilhe, directed by Raphaël Pichon.
Other Le French May programmes supported by the Trust include Gounod's master opera Roméo et Juliette, a neo-classical production of Cinderella by Malandain Ballet Biarritz, and the amazing contemporary circus acts and acrobatics Extrêmités by Cirque Inéxtremiste. More than 310,000 people are expected to enjoy these Trust sponsored events. For more information, please visit: http://www.frenchmay.com/.
Festival goers can also celebrate Le French May at Happy Valley Racecourse. Between 4 and 18 May special French-themed race nights are bringing French entertainment, food and wine to Happy Valley. Everyone is welcome!
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record HK$3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.
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Toasting the opening of Le French May are Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr Simon S O Ip (5th right); Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam (4th left); Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Eric Berti (5th left); and Chairman of the Board of Le French May Andrew Yuen (3rd left). Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr Simon S O Ip says that the Cluba£į?s support for Le French May is part of its wider commitment to promoting the arts at every level of the community and in every part of Hong Kong.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (3rd left) joins Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam (5th left); Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Eric Berti (5th right); and Chairman of the Board of Le French May Andrew Yuen (4th left) to officiate at the opening ceremony of the Claude Monet: The Spirit of Place exhibition.
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Guests tour the Claude Monet: The Spirit of Place exhibition and the interactive learning area which offers various fun-packed activities to introduce visitors to the Impressionist world of Monet.
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