(27 September 2023, Hong Kong) The Hari Hong Kong is pleased to announce the winners of The Hari Art Prize 2023. From 27 September to 17 December, the exhibition will showcase the five selected art pieces and ceramics, created by the well-known local artists. Guests can embark on a journey of discovery and dine surrounded by artworks in The Lounge and Zoku. In collaboration with A Space For Art, the Prize provides participants with the highest level of exposure and the perfect opportunity to showcase their work to the public.
The winning pieces were chosen from over 260 applicants and were selected by renowned jurors including Dr. Aron Harilela, CEO and Chairman of Harilela Hotels; Matt Chung, Gallery Ascend Founder; Heiman Ng, Founder & Director of Art Prince Advisory and HKU Part-time Lecturer in Global Creative Industries; Lynus Woo, Artist, Collector, and Founder of REP, and Melissa Digby-Bell, Head of Curatorial for A Space For Art.
Gregory Kovacs was selected as the First Prize Winner and the title of his winning piece is “19.5 Tons: The Art of Asking Your Boss”. He was awarded with a cash grant of HK$100,000 generously donated by Dr. Aron Harilela. The art piece is a slightly absurd Perec-ian piece making something out of the mundane office life. It is a two plates of steel office staples pressed against each other with a pressure of 19.5 tons using a precisely controlled hydraulic press.
The two runners up were awarded to Tao Hoi Chuen, Jacky and Ho Hon Lun, Jason with the artworks “Parking lot” and “Dreamrooms” respectively. “Parking lot” was done at the height of the epidemic. It reveals the transformation of human life as a result of the epidemic. “Dreamrooms” is an enthralling and enigmatic artwork that interweaves the realms of surrealism and abstractism. Each portal invites the viewer into diverse, interconnected worlds, just like travel, embodying an inherent interconnectedness that permeates the artwork. Jacky and Jason will become the next “The Hari’s Artists in Residence”, followed by an exhibition of their work in the hotel’s public spaces for 3 months.
Edward E. Snoeks, General Manager of The Hari Hong Kong said “Art has long been in the DNA of The Hari brand and is one of the core pillars of The Hari Hong Kong. It has been a pleasure to partner with A Space For Art to shine a light on the outstanding artistic talent in Hong Kong. We believe in the power of art to inspire and set the stage for young talents, contributing to propel the vitality of the art scene in Hong Kong.”
To continue the celebrations of “The Hari Art Prize 2023” over the coming months – and further enable guests to interact with the art pieces on show – The Hari Hong Kong is excited to offer new signature cocktails menus at The Lounge and Zoku, whereby guests can unwind and savour a cocktail in The Hari and experience the artworks in multiple sensory modalities; sight and touch.
Leo Wong with Dr. Aron 
The Awards Ceremory
To find out more about The Lounge signature cocktails, please go HERE.
See the full Zoku signature cocktails HERE.
For more details on the winning artists, please refer to Appendix and the campaign page
www.thehari.com/hong-kong/the-hari-art-prize.
