Deutsche Bank Collection Hong Kong

 

The International Commerce Centre is located at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula and –
with its elegant façade – singularly towers over the entrance to Victoria Harbour. Its windows provide spectacular views across to Hong Kong Island, showcasing a unique scenery featuring skyscrapers, mountains, water and sky.

 

The contrasts found in this “urban utopia” became the guiding principle for choosing art
for Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong, which now presents works by contemporary Asian artists
in its new Head Office.
“Urban Utopia” is not only a vision of an urban living environment, it also questions present-day social, economic, cultural and political change.

 

Asia, as one of the most important trading centres in the global market, has become a vital testing ground for cultural production, one where young artists increasingly address the phenomenon
of globalisation.

 

Between tradition and the present

 

Works by 40 artists from China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong, some renowned, others still young and aspiring, were chosen according to curatorial themes such as “Urban Utopia”, “Layers of Memory” and “Shan Shui”. Using modern and traditional techniques, including computer animation, collage, photo- graphy, paper cut and ink brush drawing,

 

they convey their vision of living environments at the beginning of a new millennium – be- tween kitsch and concept, pop and politics, consumption and spirituality.

 

The utopian cities that the Chinese artist Cao Fei has been developing on the Internet since 2007 and presenting as an option for living
in the future are reflected in works like “RMB City”; they represent merely a virtual solution. The two artists who make up MAP Office, on the other hand, document the everyday reality of those who make their homes under the 123 kilometres of the motorway connecting Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The advertising for an amusement park captured against the backdrop of a grey urban landscape in Hangzhou by Li Qing almost appears to be a Fata Morgana.

 

Shan Shui, classic Chinese landscape painting, is reinterpreted by Zhao Liang in
the “Beijing Green Series”. Yuan Shun
also addresses the themes of landscape, urbanisation and architecture. In the drawing “A Hundred Million Years Landscape” from the “0” project, created on the occasion
of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,
he combines various elements of traditional landscape painting to form a fictive
visionary image.
Michael Lin, who painted a large work for
the stairway, as well as Anothermountainman and Jakie Leung, who create sculptural vessels, work in a manner reminiscent of traditional floral textile patterns and Chinese porcelain production. Just as Michael Lin’s work represents a reaction to the architectural context, MeeNa Park, Chow Chun Fai, Kum Chi Keung and Tsang Kin Wah also developed site-related works that now create a unique atmosphere within the space occupied
by Deutsche Bank.
A total of over 70 new purchases are augmented by positions introduced through the work of European artists such as Shannon Bool and Katharina Grosse.

 

Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong

 

In 1900, Deutsche Bank opened its first branch in Hong Kong and has maintained a close relationship with the city, as one of the most important financial centres in Asia, ever since. The bank has pursued its concept of pro- moting cultural diversity within the regions in which it is involved economically. Since 2009, this includes being the major sponsor of the aspiring art fair Art HK as well as cooperative ventures with the Goethe-Institut Hongkong. With its commitment to art, Deutsche Bank makes a sustainable contribution to the cultural development of global society. The bank arouses curiosity and provides inspiration, thereby bringing people together and into a dialogue with each other.

 

Artists in the collection

 

Ackermann, Franz (b. 1963) / Anothermountain- man (b. 1960) / Bool, Shannon (b. 1972) /
Cao Fei (b. 1978) / Chen Shun-Chu (b. 1963) / Chow Chun Fai (b. 1980) / Chu, Almond (b. 1962) / Feng Meng Bo (b. 1966) / Fung, Jolans (b. 1962) / Grosse, Katharina (b. 1961) / Gröting, Asta (b. 1961) / Guan Wei (b. 1957) / Herold, Jörg
(b. 1965) / Ho Sin Tung (b. 1986) / Hong Lei
(b. 1960) / Im Sangbin (b. 1976) / Jenssen, Olav Christopher (b. 1954) / Knoebel, Imi (b. 1940) / Kowski, Uwe (b. 1963) / Kum Chi Keung (b. 1965) / Lam Tung Pang (b. 1978) / Lee Myoung Ho
(b. 1975) / Lee, Patrick (b. 1949) / Lee Young Hyang (b.1952) / Leung, Jakie / Lewandowsky, Via
(b. 1963) / Li Qing (b. 1981) / Li, Tim (b. 1975) / Lim Chaewook (b. 1970) / Lin, Michael (b. 1964) / Liu Jiaxiang (b. 1959) / Liu Shih Tung (b. 1970) / Lo Sun-chang (b. 1947) / Lo, Yvonne (b. 1957) / Map Office – Gutierrez, Laurent (b. 1966)/ Portefaix,Valerie(b.1969)/Metzel,Olaf(b.1952)/ Nicolai, Carsten (b. 1965) / Ong, Donna (b. 1978) / Park, MeeNa (b. 1973) / Rauschenberg, Robert (1925–2008) / Richter, Daniel (b. 1962) /
Sata (b. 1972) / Shao Yinong (b. 1961) / Muchen (b.1970) / Shieh, Wilson (b. 1970) / Tang Kwok Hin (b.1983) /Tsang Kin Wah (b.1976) /
Wilks, Stephen (b. 1964) / Wu, Jam (b. 1979) / Yang Yongliang (b. 1980) / Jung Yeondoo
(b. 1969) / Yuan Shun (b. 1961) / Zhao Liang (b. 1971 )

 

Art works

 

Art builds. Art questions. Art transcends borders. Art works. With its art programme Deutsche Bank is making a sustainable contribution to social development. Creativity is a source of innovation and growth. That’s why Deutsche Bank has been providing access to contemporary art worldwide for over 30 years: by means of its substantial collection, exhibitions and cooperative ventures around the world.

 

For more information please visit ArtMag, Deutsche Bank’s online art magazine under www.db-artmag.com

 

Creating Access

 

Free public tours of the Deutsche Bank Collection in Hong Kong can be arranged individually.

Meeting Point

 

Deutsche Bank AG International Commerce Centre 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Floor 48