From contemporary art at M+ to a immersive retail experience at K11 MUSEA, museum director Suhanya Raffel shares her six favourite spaces in Hong Kong.
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In Hong Kong, a city famed for its cultural richness, history and heritage, you’re never far from a museum that tempts – whatever your passion, from visual arts to the more unusual.
And if you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself in the steaming world of cup noodles? You’re also in luck.
Few people are as qualified or as passionate as Suhanya Raffel when it comes to celebrating Hong Kong’s museum and art scene. Raffel is museum director at M+, Hong Kong’s global museum of visual culture, which has transformed the city’s artistic landscape since opening in 2021.
The world-class platform for Asian art, M+’s striking complex designed by Herzog & de Meuron sits proudly on the waterfront of the West Kowloon Cultural District, with jaw-dropping views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
Raffel believes that Hong Kong’s museum landscape has changed for the better in recent years, thanks to substantial funding from both the public and private sectors.
“Great cities have great cultural institutions of substance and global reach,” she said. “This is a great international city but it lacked cultural infrastructure, that cultural capital. You have to invest in it and Hong Kong has – and that investment is now starting to really shift perceptions on Hong Kong.”
Here, Raffel picks her six favourite museums across the city, with exclusive tips of what to see and do in each.
Located in the West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ is one of the world’s largest museums of contemporary arts (Credit: Berk Ozdemir/Alamy)
1. Best for contemporary visual art: M+
At around 700,000 sq ft, M+ is one of the world’s largest museums of contemporary arts, nearly double the size of London’s vast Tate Modern. So, it’s no surprise that it tops Raffel’s own list.
Born in Sri Lanka, Raffel previously worked at The Tate in London and Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales. She’s currently museum director at M+, Hong Kong’s global museum of visual culture.
“M+ stands for museum and more. We’re a museum of visual culture, meaning art, design, fashion, film and moving image and architecture,” she said.
It’s the undeniable jewel in the crown of the West Kowloon Cultural District, costing some US$750m (£609m) and boasting a collection of more than 8,000 pieces, many of which are on show across 33 galleries. Raffel likens its cross-disciplinary focus to Paris’ Pompidou Centre and MOMA in New York. “It’s many things to many people: an architectural icon, a beautiful social space and an institution with collections that speak to different people in different ways,” she explained.
Although there’s myriad things to see and do, she suggest that visitors first visit the Sigg Collection – “one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of contemporary Chinese art”.
Next, she recommends a stop at the Kiyotomo sushi bar in the design galleries: “It’s an absolutely beautiful piece of the collection made by the great Japanese conceptual architect and furniture designer Kuramata Shiro. It’s quintessential Japanese design, an architecture within our architecture.”
TIP: Become a member to get access to M+ Lounge, a sleek exclusive area with stellar views over Hong Kong and 90 artworks from the Living Collection, established by architect William Lim and his wife, interior designer Lavina Lim.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum houses a collection of more than 900 priceless artefacts (Credit: Hong Kong Palace Museum)
2. Best for Chinese treasures: Hong Kong Palace Museum
Just a short stroll from M+, the Hong Kong Palace Museum is another art institution within the West Kowloon Cultural District. Its collection of more than 900 priceless artefacts, many from the Ming and Qing dynasties, comes from the National Palace Museum at the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Raffel reveals what makes it so unique: “There’s a rotating roster of loans of extraordinary pieces of art and archaeology. The Beijing Palace Museum is a historic site, not a museum really, but it has these amazing collections of bronzes, gold, the decorative arts, scrolls, lacquerware and beautiful porcelain – the big, deep history of Chinese art.”
Some are on show in Hong Kong for the first time, while some have never been on public display anywhere.
Special thematic exhibitions also shine a light on Chinese regional treasures, such as a focus on new archaeological discoveries from Sichuan Province, a dazzling collection of jade, gold, bronze and ceramics that date back 4,500 years. Look out for the exquisite, if haunting, 8th Century burial mask that combines gold with turquoise and inlaid rock crystal.
TIP: Regular talks and workshops are offered by esteemed experts across a number of artistic disciplines – just be sure to check whether they are offered in English.
Chinese antiquities, calligraphy and Hong Kong art are on display at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (Credit: Hong Kong Museum of Art)
3. Best for Hong Kong art and Chinese antiquities: Hong Kong Museum of Art
Hong Kong’s first public art museum opened in 1962, albeit in a different location than today’s site in the heart of the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district, just along from the city’s iconic Star Ferry terminal.
“They had a wonderful expansion which opened in 2019, it really stepped up their programmes,” said Raffel.
Chinese antiquities, calligraphy and Hong Kong art are some of the features that draw visitors to the Hong Kong Museum of Art from around the world, part of a curated collection of close to 19,000 pieces. For Raffel, the special draw is “their prize collection [of] export ware that came from China into the world: blue and white porcelain, beautiful reverse glass paintings, some extraordinary holdings.”
She explained that the museum particularly chronicles the rise of art in Hong Kong since the 1920s as the city grew increasingly culturally diverse and pluralistic through the influx of people from all over the world. “Don’t miss their collection of works by contemporary Hong Kong artists,” she advised.
As part of their aim to “make art relevant to everyone”, the museum also offers a wide range of learning resources, including some specially targeted for children aged from two to six to explore selected artworks with their parents.
TIP: If you’re still not sated, The Hong Kong Museum of Art has a sister museum in Hong Kong Park: the Museum of Teaware in Flagstaff House, a heritage building that dates from 1846.
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
