The Works：British Museum's "A History of the World in 100 Objects", artist Devin Troy Strother & in

The things we use and the things we make reflect who we are. And they have done so through history and prehistory. In 2010 the BBC debuted a series of 100 programmes called “A History of the World in 100 Objects” in collaboration with the British Museum, based on the objects in its vast collection.
Now you can see an exhibition based on that project in Hong Kong.

The work of Devin Troy Strother incorporates a variety of media and includes mixed-media pieces, sculpture and installations. He takes his inspiration from movies, television, stand-up comedy and artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Henri Matisse. As an African American, Strother says he wants to be the art world’s Michael Jordan, someone who surpasses identity and race to simply become the best at what he does. Strother was in Hong Kong last month for his exhibition based on basketball motifs at the Over the Influence gallery.

Pianist and conductor Philippe Entremont was born in Reims in 1934. His parents, both musicians themselves, initially planned for him to study violin, but – he says – he was a bit lazy and quickly realised that at least at the piano you got the chance to sit down. The rest is musical history.
His Carnegie Hall debut at 18 brought him massive public attention. In the years since, he’s become one of the most recorded music artists in history, not only as a pianist but also as a conductor. His recordings of piano concertos have recently been reissued in a 19 CD box-set. At 85 this month, Philippe Entremont can look back on a career that would humble anyone else, he says he’s not content to rest on his laurels. He’d rather focus on the present and the future. This week he’s in Hong Kong performing with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong for Le French May. And we’re delighted that he’s found time to come talk to us on The Works.