For immediate release

Elaine Chiu
Before Memories Expire | The Memory Library
6 May – 6 June 2021
Opening reception: 6 May 2021, 5 – 8pm.

Elaine Chiu, Fabric of Urban, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 152 x 250 cm. Courtesy of theartist and JPS Art Gallery.

“How do we, as humans, individuals, and members of a community, embrace the destruction andrecreation of our socio-economic cityscape, collective memories and interwoven identities?”— Elaine Chiu
Growing up in Yau Tsim Mong District, one of the busiest neighbourhoods in the city, Hong Kongartist Elaine has witnessed the drastic and continuous transformation of the urban space andenvironment since her childhood. The transient, fluidic, intersecting memories and impressions
about Hong Kong have been deep-rooted in her consciousness and self-identity.

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1With the effect of the amendment of the Building Ordinance in 2011, thousands of hand-written
sign boards or neon-lit have since been removed all around the city. In the past three years, Elaine
initiated an on-site sketching campaign to record the fleeting cityscape with her paintbrush.
Street-sketching prompts her to contemplate the disappearance of numerous heritage buildings
and tenement houses in the local community under rapid urban renewal.
“Before Memories Expire” is the continuation of Elaine’s previous on-site sketching and community
art project. Centring her research around endangered buildings, architecture, cityscape, andmemories of Hong Kong, her work explores different organic carriers and their relationship withtime and people, including community spirit, architectural structures and memories, that areformed bottom-up in the urban space. This exhibition is divided into two parts. The main part
“Before Memories Expire” features Elaine’s latest acrylic paintings and debuts her fresh to practicesculptural work. The sub-part “The Memory Library” displays Elaine’s watercolor on-location
sketches and photos of her sketching activities.

Additional artist-in-conversation event“Before Memories Expire: In Conversation with Artist Elaine Chiu”
18 May 2021, 4 – 5pm
Venue: JPS Art Gallery
Moderator: Mr. Kenneth Chan (Research Associate at University Museum and Art Gallery, HKU)
Hong Kong artist Elaine Chiu joins moderator Kenneth Chan in a conversation of her working
process, inspirations, and trajectory as an artist. Hong Kong’s endangered buildings, architecture,cityscape and memories are some of the cornerstones of Elaine’s research and practice. Her
work not only explores space, memory and the city's evolving urban identity, but also conveys thetransience and fragility of Hong Kong's cityscape. In this conversation, Elaine will share the storyof her creative practice, her muses, and her work as a personal investigation of Hong Kong’stransient, fluidic, and intersecting memories. This conversation is presented as part of Before
Memories Expire, an exhibition at JPS Art Gallery on view from 6 May to 6 June 2021.

About Elaine Chiu
Through urban sketching, community projects and paintings, Elaine explores space, memory andcommunity identity of urban environments. Her work communicates the transient and fragile
nature of cityscapes and the identity displacement under rapid urban redevelopment.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Elaine earned a BA (Hons) in Art History from the University ofHong Kong in 2018. Elaine has participated in a variety of art projects, including Vivid Sydney LightFestival 2018 and the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark project 2020. Her work has been
widely exhibited and awarded by multiple local and international institutions.
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2Elaine has received commissions from the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Economic and Trade
Office, and various internationally recognised brands. Elaine’s works are also in the permanentcollection of the Hong Kong University Museum.
Website: www.elainechiu.com

About JPS Art Gallery
Established in 2014 in Hong Kong, JPS Art Gallery is an independent contemporary art gallery
presenting works of emerging and established artists from around the world.
The gallery is founded with a passionate spirit that dedicates to the new digital age and theexploration of the world of fine art and pop culture. We aim to create an innovative environment
for a new generation of artists and collectors, fostering a creative space for all. We focus on fun andplayful works of the era that spans across different mediums and disciplines, showcasing a discerning
selection of works that embody the aesthetics of today.
We are committed to supporting the culture and art scene both in Hong Kong and Japan, creating avibrant local art community. The gallery regularly presents works of emerging artists in our gallery
spaces in Hong Kong and Tokyo as well as international art fairs, giving them a platform to gain
global exposure, supporting young artists to launch their careers. JPS has also been an active
contributor to society and the local art scene by sponsoring various charity events and auctions.

Location
218-219, 2/F, Landmark Atrium, Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.
For all media and press inquiries, please contact
Angela Tam | angela@jpsgallery.com
Hashtags for social media@elainechiuart @jpsgallery @jpsartstore#jpsgallery #jpsartgallery #jpsartstore #ElaineChiu #BeforeMemoriesExpire #趙綺婷 #記憶若有限期 #landmarkhk #contemporaryart #art #exhibition #artexhibition #artshow #hkartist#watercolorpainting #acrylicpainting #architecture #hongkonglandscape #hongkong

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Before Memories Expire Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIUThe State Theatre 皇都戲院2021
Acrylic on canvas
68.5 by 80 cm

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4Before Memories Expire Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIUReimagining San Po Kong 幻想新蒲崗
2021
Acrylic on canvas
82 by 102.8 cm

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Before Memories Expire Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIU

Cha Kwo Ling Village 茶果嶺村
2021
Acrylic on canvas
61 by 53.3 cm

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The Memory Library Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIU

170 Yee Kuk Street 醫局街170號, 2020
Watercolor on paper
57 by 38 cm

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The Memory Library Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIU

To Kwa Wan Redevelopment Area ⼟瓜灣重建區, 2021
Watercolor on paper
38 by 57 cm

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The Memory Library Key Highlights | 6 May - 6 June 2021
ELAINE CHIU

Fallen Neons 霓虹殞落, 2020
Watercolor on paper
38 by 57 cm

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即時發佈

趙綺婷
《記憶若有限期》|《回憶圖書館》
2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
開幕酒會: 2021年5⽉6⽇， 下午5時⾄8時。

趙綺婷，《城市紋脈》，2020，壓克⼒畫布，152 x 250 釐米。圖片由藝術家和JPS畫廊提供。

「在建築物和建築群不斷刷新、呼吸、成長和演化的過程裏，我們作為回憶的共同擁有者，在不斷被拆毀和重建的社會環境、回憶與⾝份下，該如何⾃處？」—— 趙綺婷
從童年到中學，藝術家趙綺婷都在深⽔埗、⽯硤尾和油尖旺度過。趙綺婷成長在千禧年代，⽬睹社區瞬息萬變，⾒證周遭的建築物「建完⼜拆」、「拆完⼜建」，使她對⾃⼰和
對香港的認知、印象，都變得恍惚、流動、重疊，回憶仿若有限期，⼀觸即碎、⼀瞬即逝。

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《建築物條例》於⼆零⼀⼀年修訂後，原本在市區林立、數以千計的⼿寫招牌和霓虹燈牌，⾃此被列為僭建物，遭逐⼀清拆。趙綺婷在三年前展開街頭寫⽣紀錄，令她驚覺，⾼速的重建令無數歷史建築和唐樓命懸⼀線，甚⾄逐漸消失於城景之中。
這次個⼈展覽《記憶若有限期》延續藝術家先前的實地寫⽣與社區考察，以唐樓和歷史建築物作為切入點，探討唐樓、建築物、城景及記憶，⼀些城市環境中⼀些由下⽽上產⽣的有機載體，以及它們與⼈、時間的關係。是次個⼈展覽展出⼀系列以壓克⼒為媒介的平⾯作品及⾸個雕塑創作。展覽的另⼀部分《回憶圖書館》則展出藝術家過往⼀年的社區紀錄和現場寫
⽣⽔彩作品，以不同⾓度記載香港城景。
展覽對談活動《記憶若有限期：與藝術家趙綺婷對談》
2021年5⽉18⽇ ，下午4時⾄5時
地點：JPS畫廊
講者：陳承焜先⽣（香港⼤學美術博物館附屬研究員）
香港藝術家趙綺婷將與講者陳承焜先⽣分享她的創作理念、過程和⼼路歷程。唐樓、歷史建
築、城市景貌和記憶是趙綺婷創作中常⾒的主題。趙綺婷的創作探討空間、記憶和不斷演化的城市⾝分，反映了香港轉瞬即逝的城市⾯貌。這次對談活動，趙綺婷會分享她創作背後的故事，共同探討如何從個⼈⾓度，窺探香港城市景象演變和交疊的回憶。這次對談活動為趙綺婷於2021年5⽉6⽇⾄年6⽉6⽇在JPS畫廊的個⼈展覽《記憶若有限期》的活動之⼀。

關於趙綺婷
城市畫家趙綺婷以畫作及寫⽣探討城貌、環境與城市⾝分的關係。她的畫作渲染出城市的演
變，在市區重建下，不斷重置變換的城貌與城市⾝分，記載香港多變、脆弱、轉瞬即逝的城市⾯貌。
趙綺婷，於香港⼟⽣⼟長，於⼆零⼀八年獲得香港⼤學⽂學院藝術史系（榮譽）學⼠學位。
她曾為悉尼光影節（2018）、聯合國地質公園保育項⽬（2020）創作藝術項⽬。趙綺婷的作
品多次在世界各地展出及獲獎，曾為香港政府、香港經濟貿易辦事處及多個世界知名的品牌作委約創作。 趙綺婷的作品亦被收入香港⼤學美術博物館的永久館藏。
網⾴：www.elainechiu.com

www.jpsgallery.com

11關於JPS畫廊
JPS畫廊始創於⼆零⼀四年，主打當代藝術，先後在香港和東京開設畫廊，代理來⾃世界各地
的新晉及知名藝術家。
畫廊旗下的藝術家⼤玩流⾏⽂化，從現代⽣活⽂化符號取材，以不同媒介創作出獨特的當代藝術品，趣緻玩味,呈現當代美學。本畫廊不但為新⼀代藝術家提供⾃由的創作空間，亦為收
藏家提供別樹⼀幟的藝術品，更為香港藝術品市場帶來緊貼時代潮流的作品。
我們⽮志於推動香港和⽇本的⽂化與藝術界發展，為本地建立充滿活⼒的藝術社區。我們會定期為藝術家於香港和東京兩地的畫廊設置展覽，亦會安排他們的作品於國際藝術節展出，
讓新晉藝術家得以於國際舞台上嶄露頭⻆，同時維持知名藝術家在全球藝術市場的熱度。除了貢獻本地藝術界，畫廊亦熱⼼公益，積極參與和贊助各項慈善和義賣活動以回饋社會。

地點
香港中環皇后⼤道中15號置地廣塲2樓218 – 219號媒體查詢及導覽，請聯絡Angela Tam | angela@jpsgallery.com

社交媒體標籤
@elainechiuart @jpsgallery @jpsartstore#jpsgallery #jpsartgallery #jpsartstore #ElaineChiu #BeforeMemoriesExpire #趙綺婷 #記憶若有限期 #landmarkhk #contemporaryart #art #exhibition #artexhibition #artshow #hkartist#watercolorpainting #acrylicpainting #architecture #hongkonglandscape #hongkong

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《記憶若有限期》重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

皇都戲院 The State Theatre
2021
壓克⼒畫布
68.5 x 80 釐米www.jpsgallery.com

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《記憶若有限期》重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

幻想新蒲崗 Reimagining San Po Kong
2021
壓克⼒畫布
82 x 102.8 釐米

www.jpsgallery.com

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《記憶若有限期》重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

茶果嶺村 Cha Kwo Ling Village
2021
壓克⼒畫布
61 x 53.3 釐米

www.jpsgallery.com

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《回憶圖書館》 重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

醫局街170號 170 Yee Kuk Street
2020
⽔彩紙本
57 x 38 釐米

www.jpsgallery.com

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《回憶圖書館》 重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

⼟瓜灣重建區 To Kwa Wan Redevelopment Area
2021
⽔彩紙本
38 x 57 釐米

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《回憶圖書館》 重點作品 | 2021年5⽉6⽇⾄6⽉6⽇
趙綺婷

霓虹殞落 Fallen Neons
2020
⽔彩紙本
38 x 57 釐米

www.jpsgallery.com

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