Mumbai Gallery Weekend is proud to present ‘Spaces of Possibility: The Founding of Hong Kong's Museums and Cultural Institutions’, a panel discussion featuring panellists from three leading modern & contemporary art institutions in Hong Kong. This panel discussion comes at a critical juncture in the Indian contemporary art scene where a lack of international art institutions has moved galleries to play the role of institutions themselves, drawing an examination on how the emergence of art institutions revolutionised the art and cultural landscape in Hong Kong. ‘Spaces of Possibility: The Founding of Hong Kong's Museums and Cultural Institutions’ will feature Adeline Ooi in conversation with Suhanya Raffel, Director of M, Billy Tang, Executive Director & Curator of Para Site and Ingrid Chu, Associate Curator at Tai Kwun. They will discuss their institutions and approach to programming, their engagement with the local community and its effect on Hong Kong in shaping cultural narratives.
We are pleased to be joined by Suhanya Raffel, the Museum Director of M+ since 2016. A journey a Sri Lankan began in the 90s art scene, making significant contributions through various senior curatorial positions at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane, transforming it into a globally recognized institution for contemporary Asia-Pacific Art. In 2013, Raffel moved to Sydney, influencing the art scene through her work as the Deputy Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales until 2016. In addition to her contribution to the Hong Kong and Australian art scene, Raffel has been a trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust & the Lunuganga Trust, reflecting her commitment to preserving & promoting the legacy of the renowned Sri Lankan Architect, Geoffrey Bawa.
Billy Tang joined Para Site as its Executive Director & Curator in 2022, with a mission to elevate its already important status. Imagining Para Site as a platform for curatorial experimentation, critical discourse & institutional responsibility, artists were and continue to be encouraged to experiment and push boundaries, Tang’s work at Para Site has made the indigenous voice more vocal. Before catalysing Para Site, Tang served as the Senior Curator at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai and as Curatorial Director at Magician Space in Beijing.
Ingrid Pui Yee Chu currently serves as an Associate Curator at Tai Kwun Contemporary in Hong Kong. With a master’s degree from CCS, Bard in New York, Ingrid has worked for over 2 decades donning the hats of curator and writer. Her curatorial work spans the globe and there aren't many she has not been actively involved with. In addition to this she has also founded a lengthy and intriguing set of independent curatorial initiatives and been associated with spaces like Asia Art Archive and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Adeline Ooi is a curator and art advisor based in Malaysia. Her career spans decades - most remarkably as Director for Art Basel Hong Kong, establishing it as a premier platform for contemporary art in the region. Ooi has also been appointed as a board member of Para Site, one of Hong Kong’s leading contemporary art institutions. ‘Title’ will draw on her knowledge to steer this important conversation about Hong Kong, in Mumbai, making this itself a historical event!
