The Burger Collection (Quadrilogy) in collaboration with Asia Art Archive is to host a panel discussion and a lecture during Backroom Conversations, a series of discussions held at the Hong Kong International Art Fair. This year the Burger Collection will moderate its own discussion, The Collection as Social Sculpture? and for the second year in a row will be presenting The Burger Collection Keynote Lecture.

The Collection as Social Sculpture?
Friday 18 May 4–6pm
In recent decades, the prospect of going-public appeared as an increasingly interesting option for private art collections and foundations. But while this process sometimes generates positive results and adds to a more diversified manifestation of art, the process can also be deplored as a publicity-seeking trend, lacking in professional rigor, convincing cultural engagement or artistic relevancy in the long run. Private collections and foundations that have gone public have been aware of the divided perceptions towards their undertakings. They therefore need to address the ethics of their activities in relation to artists, to the institutional art world, to the art market, to diverse art audiences and to society at large. Today, private collections both in the East and in the West seem compelled to think about, and respond to questions about their function not only within the circumscribed confines of the art world, but more and more also in relation to culture at large including civic concerns and endeavors.

Panelists: Rahaab Allana, Curator, Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, New Delhi; Toby Kamps, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Menil Collection, Houston; Fram Kitagawa, Chairman of Art Front Gallery Co. Ltd.; President of Gendaikikakushitsu Publishers; General Director for Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial; General Director for Setouchi International Art Festival

Moderator: Daniel Kurjakovic, Curator/Head of Program, Burger Collection, Hong Kong


The Burger Collection Keynote Lecture: Okwui Enwezor 
Thursday 17 May 6–8 pm
The Burger Collection Keynote Lecture recognizes an academic voice that has made significant contributions to the field and invites that individual to present his/her ideas. This year, Asia Art Archive and the Burger Collection welcome Okwui Enwezor, curator, art critic, writer, poet, educator, and specialist in art history. He was artistic director of the Documenta 11 exhibition in Germany (1998–2002), the 2nd Johannesburg Biennale (1996–1997), and the 7th Gwangju Biennale in South Korea (2008). Currently serving as Director, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany and Adjunct Curator of the International Center of Photography in New York.

Free admission. Please register at backroom@aaa.org.hk

Read more about the entire program of Asia Art Archive’s Backroom Conversations here.


About Burger Collection
The Burger Collection, Hong Kong, is a private collection of contemporary art. Monique Burger and her husband have been developing the collection, which unites many media, since the early 1990s, with emphases in Euro-American, Indian, and Asian art. Currently, it includes more than 1000 works by some 120 artists. As of 2009, the Burger Collection is realizing the multi-regional exhibition and research project called Quadrilogy under the curatorial leadership of Daniel Kurjaković. After the completion of Conflicting Tales in Berlin in 2009 the Burger Collection now prepares its next set of exhibitions and public programs in Hong Kong.

To learn more about the Burger Collection’s activities please subscribe to our newsletter here.


*Image above:
Robert Kinmont, Just Try and Do the Best You Can, 1968, fiberglass, 45 x 46 x 8.5 cm.
Photo by Jason Mandella, Courtesy of Robert Kinmont, Alexander and Bonin, and Burger Collection. Copyright Robert Kinmont.