Lévy Gorvy has opened a new space in Hong Kong where it serves as the third pillar of the gallery’s business, besides the New York and London branches. Located on the ground floor of the historic St. George’s Building, the new 2,500-square-foot space will hold the inaugural exhibition Return to Nature starting tomorrow.
The show offers a lineage of Eastern and Western artists whose practices look to the natural world for cohesion and clarity, showcasing works by Wu Dayu, Song Dong, Wassily Kandinsky, Hao Liang, Agnes Martin, Joan Mitchell, Claude Monet, Chung Sang-Hwa, Pierre Soulages, Pat Steir, Yan Wenliang, Wu Yinxian, and Zao Wou-Ki, among others.
Brett Gorvy, Co-founder of Lévy Gorvy, in front of Joan Mitchell's La grande vallée VII (1983)
The conception of nature is not limited to the natural landscape. It includes the physical world that surrounds and encompasses us, from the microparticles in our exhaled breath to the pull of gravity. In nature, the artists in this exhibition find examples of creative processes that unify, simplify, and connect. In tradition, they find new pathways for a contemporary voice.
Left: Pierre Soulages' Peinture 162 x 130cm, 6 octobre 1963 (1963); right: Zao Wou-ki's Le Vert caresse l'orange -11.06.2005 (2005)
On view from 26 March through 18 May, Return to Nature will be the major exhibition of the spring season at Lévy Gorvy. The gallery hopes to build understandings of Eastern and Western cultures and histories through their first exhibition in Asia.
Claude Monet's Le Rio de la Salute (1908) and Yves Klein's Untitled Pink Sponge Sculpture (SE 204) (1959)
Liang Hao's Bamboo Hut VIII. 2018
As reflected in the selection of works at the inaugural exhibition, Lévy Gorvy focuses not only Western artists like Claude Monet, Wassily Kandinsky and Joan Mitchell, but also Asian contemporary artists such as Dayu Wu, Yinxian Wu, as well as emerging artists like Liang Hao. The gallery’s goal is to transcend the cognitive boundaries of geographical divisions, and to return to the love and exploration that are the very essence of art.
Hong Kong has been a popular destination for international galleries to set their outposts in Asia. Renowned galleries around the world, including Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner and Pace Gallery, have also opened up new space in Hong Kong last year.
Danqing Li, Senior Director of Asia, Lévy Gorvy Hong Kong, in front of Wassily Kandinsky's Noir bigarré (1935)
Facing stiff competition in the region, Lévy Gorvy differentiates itself from the others with their professional knowledge in the auction field. ‘Lévy Gorvy is a unique brand that both founders (Dominique Lévy and Brett Gorvy) come from an auction background. They are very experienced in secondary market dealing and selling masterpieces,’ said Danqing Li, Senior Director of Asia, Lévy Gorvy Hong Kong, who previously worked as a specialist in Post War and Contemporary Art at Christie’s.
Other Highlights from Return to Nature
Dayu Wu's Untitled-35
Agnes Martin's Untitled (2003)
Mark Grotjahn's Untitled (Yellow Butterfly Orange Mark Grotjahn 2004) (2004)
Return to Nature｜Zao Xue Han Zhang
Lévy Gorvy
Dates: 26 March - 18 May 2019
Venue: G/F, St. George’s Building
Address: 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong