Arthur De Villepin To Reopen Hong Kong's Haw Par Mansion As Art Hub

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Arthur de Villepin, an art curator and gallerist, is chairing the Foundation for Art and Culture, which will operate Haw Par Mansion in Hong Kong as Villa Haw Par. The 1935 structure, originally a family residence commissioned by entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw, is a rare example of Chinese Renaissance style, blending Eastern and Western architectural elements.

The mansion, which previously served as a music education and cross-cultural exchange center from 2019 to 2022, was entrusted to the foundation by the Hong Kong government on a nonprofit, self-financing basis. De Villepin, co-founder of the Villepin gallery with his father, former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin, emphasized the site's role in connecting cultures and inspiring creativity.

Executive director Sara Mao, formerly of Christie's for two decades, stated the project's guiding principle:“Connecting cultures, inspiring creativity.” The foundation received the property keys in December, making fundraising an immediate priority, de Villepin told Observer. Villa Haw Par aims to reopen in phases, starting this month, with public tours of the home and the adjacent Tiger Balm Garden. De Villepin noted its significance, stating:“It is a symbol of Hong Kong. It was built by an entrepreneur and carries almost 100 years of history. In Hong Kong, 100 years can feel like centuries elsewhere.”

Inspired by institutions like Villa Medici and Villa Albertine, the project will also establish an international residency program focusing on restoration and contemporary interventions. De Villepin explained:“We want to restore it and transform it into a contemporary place, not simply contemporary for its own sake, but a place of conversation between the past, the heritage and future interventions.” These interventions will vary in duration, from temporary to long-term, site-specific installations, and the program will initially host two or three residents for up to three months. The initiative will extend beyond visual arts to include cinema, design, and other disciplines, often in collaboration with local and international partners.

A third goal is public programming aligned with Hong Kong's cultural calendar, including cinema week, Art Basel Hong Kong, and design week. The first major event,“House of Design,” is scheduled for early December, featuring local and international designers. For Hong Kong Art Week in March, de Villepin is keen on sculpture, stating:“I am really pushing for sculpture because we are one of the only locations in Hong Kong where you can have a sculpture garden. I want to build a collaboration around the garden, changing it through a specific theme and partnership.”

De Villepin confirmed that Villa Haw Par will operate independently from his commercial gallery, which was founded in 2020. He expressed his conviction that Hong Kong required more than just another gallery, drawing inspiration from figures like Aimé and Marguerite Maeght, founders of Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. De Villepin said he believes that the commercial art world often blurs the line between supporting and merely selling art. He reflected:“Selling should be the consequence of good curation and good sourcing, yet it can feel as though everything is about sales. I felt we needed to return to creativity and creation, and to nurturing the ecosystem.”

Born in Washington, D.C., de Villepin's connection to Hong Kong stems from his international upbringing and belief in culture's diplomatic role. He noted:“It is about helping people believe in art again for what it is, rather than only for the idea that it can be a great investment.”

Source: Observer Arts

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