May 30, 2012

Last week a Canadian friend came to Hong Kong for business and was wondering if we would fancy pigeon dinner in Tai Wai. He was reminiscing about crispy roast pigeon which he had the last time he visited Hong Kong back in 1998. Since he could not remember the name of the restaurant, I checked the website of Open Rice and figured we should be going to the Lung Wah Hotel in Sha Tin.

Renowned for its pigeon dishes, the Lung Wah is a restaurant that sits on a hill in Sha Tin. It has a history of more than half a century and although it is no longer a hotel, its name has not changed. According to their website, pigeon meat is not only delicious, it is also very nutritious. Their crispy roast pigeon (see pic) and pigeon egg dish that we ordered were indeed very tasty. Along with the pigeons, you get plastic gloves to prevent your hands from getting oily. We ordered three pigeons and that was quite plenty besides the soup, beancurd and vegetables that we had.

So if you have time to come out to the New Territories, this place is worth a visit. Their website is the Lung Wah Hotel.

Written by: Audrey

May 24, 2012

A while ago I learnt from an MCLC post that the Spring issue of wienzeile, a magazine for literature, art and politics, published in Austria would feature Chinese contemporary literature and art. Given my interest in Chinese literature, and that in translation, I applied for a free copy which just arrived in the post.

The issue themed ‘mit dem kopf durch die chinesische mauer’ 橫穿長城的頭顱 from a poem by Liu Jixin, contains works by writers from the PRC and Taiwan, including Hsia Yu, Yan Jun, Hung Hung, Zheng Xiaoqiong, Yu Jian, Ma Lan, Qi Ge, Wu Yinning, Lin Weifu, Tong Yali, Pang Pei and Liao Yiwu. All translated into German and many of them printed with the Chinese original.

The violent image on the front cover, see illustration here, is art by Linda Bilda from Vienna. According to Martin Winter, translator of most of the pieces in this issue, the editorial team was originally divided about the cover. Eventually the view of a prominent Chinese author (included in this issue) who said it represented ‘Heutiges China’ (China today) settled it.

The magazine was official launched on 17 May in Vienna, with a live performance by poet and artist Yan Jun. For more information about the magazine, see website: http://wienzeile.cc/magazin/62/.

Written by: Audrey

May 18, 2012

Next month a collection of Jingdezhen ceramics will be on display at the CityU Gallery. This time the exhibits are new and with contemporary designs painted by modern artists. The five artists whose works will be displayed are Zhu Zhengmao, Gao Weiqing, Long Deming, Zou Le and Wan Qing, all from Jiangxi.

The two samples shown here are a vase decorated by Zhu Zhengmao and a plate painted by Zou Le, the only female artist among the five. Both graduated from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute where Zou Le is teaching while Zhu is Associate Professor at the Jiangxi Ceramic & Art Institute.

On the slim, tall vase are orange-brownish reeds that bend in the wind and white birds with black tipped wings, probably egrets, flying in the sky against the wind. Near the rim are some characters written which are difficult to read.

Colour-wise, the plate could have been a traditional blue and white; yet the design has something modern to it with a sprinkle of golden flakes. The large blue scabiosa-like flowers are a marked contrast with the string of small white forget-me-nots in the background.

Since art is difficult to describe (I doubt that my description is of any help), I highly recommend that you come and admire the real objects. The exhibition is open daily from 10 am- 7pm, from the opening ceremony on 13 June until 22 July 2012.

Written by: Audrey

May 9, 2012

Later this month CCIV will take a group of students on a field trip to Suzhou. Famous for its bridges and canals, Suzhou is often called the ‘Venice of the East’ but it is also known for its classical gardens and pagodas. Co-organized with Suzhou University, the seven-day trip from Monday 21 to Sunday 27 May has a packed programme that includes lectures at Suzhou University and visits to historical sites such as the Master of Nets Garden, Lion Grove Garden, and Pan Gate Scenic Area.

There is an introduction on the CCIV website about the art of Chinese Gardening under ‘Web of Chinese Civilisation of 5,000 Years’ here. It explains the natural beauty of Chinese gardening and the styles of the Royal Gardens, Private Gardens and the Gardens in Suzhou. It is remarkable that the design of many of the gardens was inspired by ideas and suggestions of famous poets and painters.

For more details in Chinese on the field trip, please visit the CCIV website, here.

Written by: Audrey