Over 100 works of renowned female artist Niki de Saint Phalle will be showcased at Sha Tin Town Hall from 5 May to 2 June 2019. The Legend of the 20th century art: Niki de Saint Phalle exhibition is one of five Le French May events supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, serving as the opening programme of this annual festival of French culture.

This is the first solo exhibition of Niki de Saint Phalle in Hong Kong. One of the most significant feminist artists of the 20th century, this French-born, American-raised artist had no formal training in art, but associated freely with many other contemporary artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, paving her way to becoming a leading contemporary sculptor, painter and filmmaker. Niki de Saint Phalle is especially famous for monumental outdoor installations. Some of her large-scale sculptures will be presented in the public space at Sha Tin Town Hall as an eye-catching promenade leading to an indoor exhibition.

Officiating guests at the opening of the festival and exhibition today included Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow; HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam; Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Alexandre Giorgini; Chairman of the Board of Le French May Dr Andrew Yuen; granddaughter of Niki de Saint Phalle, Bloum Cardenas; celebrity ambassador Karena Lam; and CEO of Le French May Julien-Loïc Garin.

This is the eighth year that the Club has been the major partner of Le French May, making a donation of over HK$9 million to support five arts programmes and educational initiatives during the 2019 festival.

“The Club’s support for Le French May reflects our strong commitment to arts, culture and heritage in Hong Kong,” said Dr Chow. “To further enrich the festival experience, the Club’s community outreach and arts education programme is providing guided tours, workshops, master classes, public rehearsals and post-performance discussions. In addition, students from less-privileged backgrounds will receive complimentary tickets, and there will be special programmes for the visually and hearing impaired. And for a second year, university students and fresh graduates will be able to join an internship programme – working alongside and learning from Le French May’s world-class practitioners and performers.”

Other programmes sponsored by the Trust include Invitation to the Voyage by the Paris Mozart Orchestra in which audiences are invited to rediscover classical music through a blend of music, poetry and visual media; Hikikomori – The Shelter which will see theatregoers engage with a futuristic story from the perspective of different characters; Näss (People) by Compagnie Massala, a high-energy dance performance mixing North African dance and contemporary hip-hop; and Julien Cottereau plays Carte Blanche, in which leading comedian Julien Cottereau will showcase some of his best acts. Over 83,000 people are expected to enjoy these performances.

More details: https://frenchmay.com

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.