A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO WORK In the usually staid commercial and retail spaces of Hong Kong, Swire Properties brings a fresh perspective, a little artistry and flair. BY ELIZABETH KERR 14 January 2009 |
ANTI-CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Transcient, Suspense, The Watcher, Watergarden ART SCENE A QUICK LOOK INTO HISTORY reminds us that being an artist at one time was a job like any other, and the world’s great artists (Michelangelo, Picasso, Delgado) were often commissioned to create paintings and sculptures for public spaces. Often those were churches and rulers’ palaces but, later, those spaces began to include government structures, educational institutions, pedestrian shopping districts and eventually office complexes. Some of the greatest single works of art are in public spaces. The glorious frescos of the Sistine Chapel were a commissioned public piece; British sculptor Henry Moore is renowned largely for his public works; and Banksy blurred the distinction between public art and graffiti with his irreverent humour. Enormous canvasses now dot corridors, atriums and lobbies in commercial buildings all over the world, and works by contemporary artists can be found in the unlikeliest of locations. Until recently, art has not been a driving force in commercial design in Asia, but that’s starting to change and Swire Properties is leading the way. Swire Properties is the wholly owned real estate subsidiary of Swire Pacific, one of Hong Kong’s oldest trading companies with roots dating back to the early 1800s, and whose larger holdings also incorporate aviation (Cathay Pacific), marine services (Swire Pacific Ship Management), industrial and agricultural trading (TaiKoo Sugar) and beverage processing (Swire Coca-Cola). Incorporated in 1972, Swire Properties has built a portfolio that spans commercial, residential and retail properties, and has developed or manages some of Hong Kong’s most notable addresses: Island East, Pacific Place and Festival Walk. It’s no secret that writer James Clavell based one of the “houses” in Noble House on Swire. Swire currently has interests in the US, the UK, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and China. DRIVING ART Swire has long been at the forefront of the public art movement in Hong Kong. Not only does the group often include art in its spaces and support independent exhibitions, but also Island East has long been the location for free outdoor concerts on weekends – Friday Fest – the company founded Artwalk in 2002 and has sponsored countless theatrical and music events over the past decade. There are many that would say art is a waste of time and (particularly public) money, but Swire disagrees, as would anyone strolling through the halls of Island East (home of TaiKoo Place) who caught a glimpse of Hong Kong artist Michael Lau’s stunning Watergarden series. “Swire Properties consciously connects its properties with the surrounding environment and visual art serves as one of the bridges for this initiative,” explained Babby Fung, Head of Marketing at Island East Swire Properties Limited. “Our aim is to produce an innovative and creative environment for the community and engage with the people in it via lively and diverse arts programmes and public art collections that provide enjoyment and fresh cultural experiences.” Some of those fresh experiences are coming from China, as there is very “strong demand” for Chinese contemporary art, in the Asia region and the Western art market, observed Bobby Mohseni, Director of MFA Asia Ltd, a Hong Kong art consultancy that serves both individual and corporate clients. Far from being a “waste” of public money and space, Fung points out that art doesn’t necessarily belong in museums and galleries and was never intended to be concealed from public view – Shakespeare was, after all, a playwright who catered to popular themes. Instead, at a time of great artistic diversity and shrinking public funds, Fung noted that the nurture and promotion of art is a corporate social responsibility that more corporations should take on. “We take the view that art, or public art, is not something that should be left entirely in the hands of governments.” The private sector has to be more active and a sustained commitment to commissioning diverse modern art is important, so that we form an eclectic collection in which a number of wide-ranging aesthetic, functional and educational purposes co-exist,” she added. Among some of Swire’s more notable pieces are figurative sculptor David Williams-Ellis’s The Watcher and glass sculptor Danny Lane’s Shan Shui, both sculptures also at Island East. The latter makes waiting for a taxi just a little bit more pleasant. THE VALUES OF BEAUTY Does art in fact make a noticeable difference to property values? There are naysayers, but Fung sees value in art. “For a value-creating business like ours, it is important to ensure that our goods and services are clearly differentiated and that they do not compete as commodities traded solely on price,” she said. “We have developed first-class properties in tandem with discriminating audiences who, through exposure to the arts or art, are able to recognise excellence and quality, and appreciate the values that | January 2009 15
Change language