Press Invitation

Rising Above: The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection

-- On Display for the First Time Outside of the United States

December 5, 2016

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will work with The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection on the exhibition Rising Above from December 9, 2016 to February 26, 2017. The exhibition includes over 120 items that range from paintings and sculptures to rare first editions and manuscripts, letters and official records that testify to the courage and hope of African Americans rising above the challenges they faced – and still face – to make their voices heard.

The Kinsey Collection has been seen by over 6 million people in 24 cities around the United States. It is the first privately owned collection to have been displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and is now on long-term display at Epcot, a theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, that attracts millions of visitors every year.

Dr Florian Knothe, Director of the University Museum and Art Gallery, “This rising above adversity is not a localised historic phenomenon, but one as much known in Asia as in America. The documents and artifacts shown in our exhibition – the very first display of The Kinsey Collection outside of the U.S. - pertain to African emigrants and their life-stories, but, beyond a specific people, they speak for the social engagement and success, inclusion and exclusion, as well as the massive contribution of a minority group in our increasingly globalised world. In both East and West, minorities deserve recognition for their accomplishments and the requisite political freedoms to embrace and develop their own cultures. ”

Professor Derek Collins, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, The University of Hong Kong, “It is fitting that The Kinsey Collection makes its debut outside the US in Hong Kong. As a vibrant, open and globally connected city, the citizens of Hong Kong will find many kindred spirits in this collection. If you only have one “aha” moment while experiencing this exhibition, then all of our efforts to bring this collection to Hong Kong will have been worth it: because in that moment, you will recognise yourself.”

Mr Bernard W. and Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey, “This is an exhibition where art and history intersect, containing a balance of rare and authentic historical objects and fine art from 1595 to the present, which shares the incredible experience and contributions of African Americans that are often left out of American History books.”

The exhibition is organized in collaboration with KBK Enterprises, Inc. and the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Arts & Education. Goldman Sachs is a Silver Sponsor and American Airlines is the exhibition’s Official Airline. Supporting organizations include the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong and Macau, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Lan Kwai Fong Group, and the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

Media preview and group interview session

Date: December 8, 2016 (Thursday)

Media registration: Starts at 17:00

Time: 17:00 – 17:45

Venue: 1/F T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Language: English

Speakers:

Mr Bernard W. Kinsey, Collector

Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey, Collector

Media RSVP: elenac@hku.hk / Tel: 2241 5512

Opening ceremony

Date: December 8, 2016 (Thursday)

Time: 18:00 – 19:30

Venue: 1/F T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Officiating Guests:

Mr Kurt W. Tong, Consul General of the United States of America

Professor W. John Kao, HKU Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global)

Professor Derek Collins, HKU Dean of Faculty of Arts

Mr Bernard W. Kinsey, Collector

Mrs Shirley Pooler Kinsey, Collector

Mr Khalil Kinsey, Collector

Host: Dr Florian Knothe, Director of UMAG, HKU

Details of the Exhibition

Period: December 9, 2016 (Friday) to February 26, 2017 (Sunday)

Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday); 13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday) (Closed on University and Public Holidays)

Venue: 1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk

Admission: Free

Website: http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU

Instagram: #KinseyCollection, #RisingAbove, #AfricanAmerican, #AmericanHistory

Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG

About University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)

UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

About the Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of the University of Hong Kong’s oldest and largest faculties and is consistently recognized as one of the best in Asia for the Arts and Humanities. Our international outlook is reflected in the incredible diversity of our staff and students and our collaborations with other top universities around the globe. For more information on the Faculty of Arts, please click here.

Media enquiries

UMAG Communications Officer Miss Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk