The opening ceremony for this year’s “Chinachem Group Celebrates French May” was held at Central Market.
A highlight of the opening ceremony came when Hong Kong-based artist Bao Ho completed a live painting called Siren’s Song on Waterlight Graffiti.
Hong Kong-based artist Bao Ho creates artworks on the captivating interactive Waterlight Graffiti installation by French artist Antonin Fourneau, exemplifying cross-cultural exchange through art.
This year’s French Traditional Gourmet Market will be the largest to date, held at Central Market and NINA MALL I. Guests visit the market together and pose for photos.
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In collaboration with French May Arts Festival, Chinachem Group is set to host the French Traditional Gourmet Market and an interactive Waterlight Graffiti installation to highlight sustainability and foster cultural exchange.
Sharing the many facets of culture and creativity with the community has long been a vision at the heart of leading property developer Chinachem Group. And 2023 sees the third consecutive year of the Group’s partnership with French May Arts Festival to further arts and cultural exchange between Hong Kong and France.
Riding on the heels of a highly welcoming public response to the Group’s joint programmes in 2021 and 2022, Chinachem will be hosting two special events at its Central Market and NINA MALL properties between now and 19 June – the beloved French Traditional Gourmet Market and the interactive Waterlight Graffiti installation.
“Chinachem Group and French May Arts Festival share the same vision of promoting arts and culture as a means of improving and enriching community life,” says Chinachem Group’s Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi. “The collaboration is another manifestation of Chinachem Group’s commitment to a sustainable future and our ‘Triple Bottom Line’ approach, which equally prioritises People, Prosperity and Planet in our business operations.”
Held at Central Market on May 11, the opening ceremony for this year’s “Chinachem Group Celebrates French May” collaboration was performed by Chinachem Group’s Executive Director and CFO Ricky Tsang, Chinachem Group’s Chief Business Impact Officer Sylvia Chung, Consul-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Christile Drulhe, and Chairman Emeritus of French May Arts Festival Dr Andrew Yuen.
Dr Yuen remarked during the opening ceremony that French May Arts Festival was delighted to once again join hands with Chinachem Group in bringing French arts, culture and gastronomy to the Hong Kong community, “In addition to the hugely popular French Gourmet Markets, this year we are delighted to jointly-present an East-meets-West artistic crossover, welcoming French artist Antonin Fourneau’s Waterlight Graffiti installation to display the meaningful artwork creations of Hong Kong artist Bao Ho.”
Enriching cultural event
“As we mark our third consecutive year of collaboration, we are delighted to co-present a programme of gastronomy and art across two strategic locations, broadening the reach, engagement and accessibility of the festival to a wider audience,” noted Consul-General Mrs Drulhe.
Co-hosted by Chinachem Group, the ever-popular French Traditional Gourmet Market, now in its 9th edition, is poised to be the largest hosted by Chinachem Group to date. Themed ‘Bubble Up’, it will feature 19 pop-up stores at Central Market and 18 at NINA MALL 1 in Tsuen Wan highlighting French sparkling wines from different regions along with the likes of lip-smacking cheeses, cold cuts and pâtés, and so much more.
Supporting sustainability
Elsewhere, Chinachem Group will also be showcasing a captivating interactive Waterlight Graffiti installation by French artist Antonin Fourneau. An eco-friendly art installation that is equal parts fresh and unique, Waterlight Graffiti is composed of thousands of LEDs that will illuminate as they make contact with water, triggering an electrical light bridge on which luminous messages can be written.
Using minimal electricity and water as the medium, visitors can create their own artwork in lights on this sustainable LED canvas, enjoying a unique arts experience. To exemplify cross-cultural exchange through art, renowned Hong Kong-based artist Bao Ho has curated two artworks inspired by sustainability and nature to complement the installation.
During the opening ceremony at Central Market, both Fourneau and Ho were present to witness the unveiling of Waterlight Graffiti. A high point was when Ho completed a painting entitled Siren’s Song on Waterlight Graffiti, with officiating guests then being invited to put the final touches to it. In the wake of global warming and intense human activities, this piece is an artistic plea for conserving the ocean and the natural environment, depicting a protector of the sea striving to preserve the ocean and marine species under dire circumstances.
Art for all
Chinachem Group is committed to bringing positive social impacts to the community, making art and culture more accessible and engaging to the public. By working with NGO partners, the Group will provide two special tours for secondary students and community groups to the immersive Virtually Versailles exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the French Traditional Gourmet Market, and a trial of Waterlight Graffiti at Central Market and NINA MALL.
Virtually Versailles is the official touring exhibition of the Palace of Versailles which combines heritage with technology to let visitors take an incredible virtual journey into the world-famous palace and gardens and experience their grandeur. With Chinachem Group’s collaboration with NGO partners, the two special tours are invaluable opportunities for students to learn about French arts and culture.
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French Traditional Gourmet Market
Central Market
Date: 11 May – 14 May
Time: 11am – 8pm
NINA MALL 1
Date: 1 June – 4 June
Time: 11am – 8pm
Waterlight Graffiti Interactive Art Installation
Central Market
Date: 11 May – 29 May
Time: 11am – 7pm
NINA MALL 2
Date: 1 June – 19 June
Time: 11am – 7pm