The Works：The controversial "2047 Countdown Machine", 25min tram ride, Chen Ke's Marilyn Monroe & in

We often think public art as large scale sculptures or murals, but new technology and new media allow it to take entirely contemporary forms. Last Wednesday, the Arts Development Council launched the “5th Large-Scale Public Media Art Exhibition: Human Vibrations” curated by Caroline Ha Thuc. It will run until 22nd June. But one of the works on show has been causing vibrations of a sort the council seems not to have had in mind.
While the public art in that exhibition is firmly entrenched in the city and the community, other artists are choosing, as they always have, to return to nature for their inspiration. Many of us rarely get out of the city. Others regularly head out to the countryside to hike and breathe fresher air. Among them is local artist Stephen Wong, for whom regular countryside excursions also provide the opportunity to indulge in his passion: landscape painting.
Her image was painted and printed by Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, and many more derivative artists. Her face was photographed by some of the 20th century’s greatest photographers from Cecil Beaton to Henri Cartier-Bresson. She was a muse to writers, including one-time husband Arthur Miller. She was temperamental, vulnerable, and more talented than people often gave her credit for. Film directors and fellow stars loved her and loathed her, sometimes both at the same time. She is of course Marilyn Monroe, and her image and star power resonate even now, half a century after her death, as you can see in “Dream•Dew” the current exhibition by Chen Ke at Galerie Perrotin.
Regular viewers may well recall that we’ve had several a cappella groups performing in very different styles on the show over the years. Many are international groups just here for shows or festivals. Well, the four members of Metro Vocal Group may well originate from the United States, but for the past decade they have been firmly based here. They’re in our studio right now.