Unparalleled Madness - Renowned Chinese contemporary photo­grapher Wang Qingsong questions the nature of performing and its relationship to his still images. Opening: Nov 29, 7pm. Through Dec 13. Madhouse Art, G/F, 8-10 Kau U Fong, Central, 2815-6007, www.madhouse.com.hk.

“Greedy?” Conceptual Art Exhibition
Six local artists show commit one of the seven deadly sins in their own creative way. Opening: Nov 28, 6:20pm. See below.

The Souls on Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight
Damien Hirst’s new works, including his six-colour photogravure etchings of butterflies. Opening Dec 4. Through Dec 14. Fabrik Contemporary Art Gallery, 412, 4/F, Yip Fung Building, 2-18 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2525-4911, www.fabrik-gallery.com.

Wonderland
A showcase of contemporary Japanese artwork, including those by Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara. Opening: Nov 28. Through Dec 15. Opera Gallery, 2/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington St., Central, 2810-1208, www.operagallery.com. 

Ongoing

Attention Spam
In-your-face urban works from five British artists. Through Dec 10. Schoeni Art Gallery, 21-31 Old Bailey St., Central, 2869-8802.

Faces To Figures
Malaysian artist Charles Cham experiments with the “duality of life” in his double-face images. Through Dec 18. Karin Weber Gallery, 20 Aberdeen St., Central, 2544-5004, www.karinwebergallery.com.

HK PICKS
Hong Kong—Memories of the Sixties
A collection of Hong Kong’s street scenes by veteran documentary photographer Yau Leung. Through Dec 6. Picture This Gallery, 1308, 13/F, 9 Queen’s Rd., Central, 2525-2820, www.picturethiscollection.com.

Imaging Hong Kong: Contemporary Photography Exhibition
Hong Kong’s homegrown photographers exhibit over 150 shots of the city since the 1950s, in styles ranging from photojournalism to mixed and new media. Through Dec 30. Hong Kong Central Library Exhibition Gallery 1-5, 66 Causeway Rd., Causeway Bay, www.edge-gallery.com.

HK PICKS
Awakenings
A showcase of artwork by 16 Filipino artists living and working in Hong Kong. Through Dec 31. OC Gallery, Olympian City 1, 11 Hoi Fai Rd., West Kowloon, 2132-8601.

Le Songe Creux 
An ongoing painting and drawing series by artist Frank Vigneron in the form of “a wordless journal.” Through Dec 31. MOCA China, 205, 2/F, Delay No Mall, 68 Yee Wo St., Causeway Bay, 2577-6988.

My Heart Laid Bare
Paris-based Chinese artist Zhou Yi creates a multimedia installation based on the tales of Boccaccio’s “Decameron.” Through Jan 10. Ooi Botos Gallery, 5 Gresson St., Wan Chai. 2527-9733, www.ooibotos.com.

Paintings: Yankwai Wong
The multi-talented artist uses layers of colors, forms and shapes to depict her landscapes. Through Jan 7. University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, 94 Bonham Rd., Pok Fu Lam, www.hku.hk/hkumag.

People in Street Market
A collective effort to preserve the living history of our 140-year-old Graham Street Market through photography. Through Dec 18. Hoi Wan Restaurant, 28 Gage St., Central.

Seeing Beauty
Eight images of Marilyn Monroe captured by veteran photojournalist Eve Arnold. Through Nov 31, Gallery of Modern Art, Shop L115-116, New World Centre, 18-24 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui and Through Dec 31, Numero 135, 135-137 Wong Nai Chung Rd., Happy Valley.

Closing

Beauty, Virtu and Falling Jasmin
Argentinean artist Grillo Demo finds beauty by painting over vintage images. Through Nov 30. The Cat Street Gallery, 222 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2291-0006, www.thecatstreetgallery.com.

Life is Beautiful
Strongly influenced by Jean-Michel Basquiat and pop culture, Indonesian artist Bob Sick Yudhita combines acrylic, collage and mixed media in his works. Through Nov 30. Sin Sin Annex, 53 Sai St., Sheung Wan, www.sinsinfineart.com.

To Have or To Be
A contemporary Korean art exhibition featuring ten artists mixing new and traditional ideas. Through Dec 4. Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Rd., Central.

Young Blood
A showcase of Hong Kong’s up-and-coming talent, recently graduated from the Chinese University, the Baptist School of Visual Arts and the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Through Nov 30. Blue Lotus Gallery, Unit 24, 5/F, Block A, Wah Luen Industrial Building, 15-21 Wong Chuk Yeung St., Fo Tan, www.bluelotus-gallery.com.


Art Box

Want More?
Now might not seem to be the best time to be asking for more of anything. But anything flies in the world of art. Six local artists have chosen the current financial crisis as an ideal opportunity to reflect on Hong Kong’s favorite deadly sin: greed. The exhibition “Greedy?” is no humble confession, but a proud airing of the participants’ own dirty laundry and a mockery of human nature in general.

The question mark of the title isn’t asking whether or not we’re greedy (of course we are), so much as why. “Under capitalism, being greedy is a way of survival and something that allows society to run smoothly,” says curator and artist Clara Cheung. She points to the way local artists are required by their environment to take up additional jobs such as curating and marketing exhibitions, rather than simply investing themselves into their art alone. Maybe not the most obvious example in town, but still.

A torn $10,000 dollar check can say heaps about greed. At least when its original recipient was artist Cheung Yee-man, who refused to accept it as commission for an undesirable art collection, instead ripping it up and turning it into a piece of art itself.

No one would appear to hate banks more than Movana Chen. The artist shredded investment brochures she collected from different bank branches. But the life-sized statues she created from the recycled remains of a man and a pregnant woman display more than just the frustrations of a failed investor.

Artist Jeff Leung took it to another level altogether: he is auctioning off the  rights for other people to come and interpret his art. In this ironic move, Leung comes across as not only greedy, but almost sacrilegious. Here Leung displays the 20-dollar contract he signed with another artist Kwok Ho-mang (aka Frog King) for a one-minute interpretation.



Winnie Chau

Want to see more? Head to “Greedy?” Conceptual Art Exhibition. Through Jan 23. C&G Artpartment, 3/F, 222 Sai Yeung Choi St., Mong Kok, 2390-9332,
www.candg-artpartment.com.

WHY NOT

Get Sexed Up
Painting isn’t just done with a brush, y’know. The Asia Adult Expo features the artist Pricasso, whose technique is to paint with... well, not his hands, that’s for sure. Check him out at his portrait demonstration at the Asia Adult Expo at the Venetian Macao. Also worth a gander are the Expo’s eight exhibitions featuring international and domestic sex-related products. Besure to look out for the award-winning “sexercise ball.” Dec 5-7,10am-5pm. The Venetian, Estrada da Baia de N. Senhora da Esperanca, The Cotai Strip, Taipa, 2528-0015, aae.verticalexpo.com.


Bulletin Board

Audition
The Hong Kong Bach Choir will be singing Berlioz as part of Le French May in 2009. All interested are welcome to come for an audition. Booking required. Jan 5, 7-10pm. Culture Centre. Details: www.bachchoir.org.hk or membership@bachchoir.org.hk (Fanny Lo).

Cathay Camera Club
Friendly English-speaking photographic society meets twice a month for competitions, tutorials, socials, outings and exhibitions. Details: www.cathaycameraclub.com.

Football for Life
Make a donation to FFL, which is currently running a funding campaign for bettering the lives of underprivileged children through football. Details: www.footballforlife.org, aafc88@gmail.com or 2895-6867.

Cha: An Asian Literary Journal
A Hong Kong–based online quarterly journal dedicated to publishing creative works from and about Asia, Cha features quality poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, reviews, drama, photography and art. Details: www.asiancha.com.

English-in-Action
Volunteer native English speakers needed to meet with non-native speakers to practice English in a relaxed atmosphere. Details: www.esuhk.org or 2186-8449 (Venni Tam).

Open Air Markets
Discovery Market: first Sunday of the month, Discovery Bay Piazza Area. 10am–5pm. Details: www.openairhk.com.