Media

HKU weekly notice (from March 7 to March 14, 2015)

06 Mar 2015

 

The science behind the dress colour debate: Human brain scientist to hold public lectures at HKU to reveal the science and art of visual illusions
What is the colour of this dress? Blue and black? Or white and gold? The dress colour has become the hottest global debate, and divided many families and friends. The question is: why do people perceive colours differently? What is behind to divide people?

The Department of Psychology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) brings you Professor Arthur Shapiro from American University to reveal the science behind this hot debate of visual illusions. The speaker is a world-famous visual scientist who uses illusion to study human brain functions. His visual illusion designs won the Champions for "the Best Illusion of the Year" in 2005 and 2009. Professor Shapiro appeared in various international media talking about the science of the dress colour.

On March 10 and 11 (next Tuesday and Wednesday), Professor Arthur Shapiro will hold two public lectures at HKU co-organized by HKU Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, and Admissions and Academic Liaison Section, Registry. One is designed for local secondary students, and the other is designed for the general public.

Professor Arthur Shapiro will discuss the creation of illusions, where they come from, and how they are made. He will show that research on visual illusions sits at the crossroads of many academic disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, mathematics, physics, computer science, philosophy and art, and addresses fundamental questions about how the brain works. He will also discuss how research on visual illusions can aid in assessing the health of the visual system.

Details of the two Public Lectures:
(1 ) The Art and Science of Visual Illusions (for secondary students, registration required)
Date: March 10, 2015 (next Tuesday)
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm (registration starts at 6:00 p.m.)
Venue: CPD-LG.18, Centennial Campus, HKU (Map)
Language: English
Registration link (first-come first-served basis):
Enquiry: Mr Steven Chan, Registry (Tel: 2241 5534 or Email cfschan@hku.hk )

(2) The Art and Science of Visual Illusions (for general public, no registration required)
Date: March 11, 2015 (next Wednesday)
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm (registration starts at 6:30 p.m.)
Venue: CPD-LG.18, Centennial Campus, HKU (Map)
Enquiry: Mr Steven Chan, Registry (Tel: 2241 5534 or Email cfschan@hku.hk )

More about Professor Arthur Shapiro: http://www.american.edu/cas/faculty/arthurs.cfm

More on the dress colour debate: http://www.wired.com/2015/02/science-one-agrees-color-dress/

Media enquiry:
HKU Communications and Public Affairs Office Ms Rhea Leung (Tel︰2857 8555/ 9022 7446/ Email rhea.leung@hku.hk) or HKU Faculty of Science Dr Benny Ng (Tel：54103822；Email：ngbenny@hku.hk)

Exhibitions and activities at UMAG
1. “The real” in the eyes of artists in “Desiring the Real: Austria Contemporary Art”

Period: February 18, 2015 (Wednesday) to March 22, 2015 (Sunday)

This thematic exhibition presents contemporary artworks by 25 Austrian artists who investigate, through images and installations, representations of ‘the real’, and the subjective perception of reality by individual onlookers.

In “Desiring the Real”, one medium, such as film or video art, can take on the artistic qualities of another art form, such as Chinese ink painting, as shown in the fluid and expressive video installation Cluster (2010) by Rainer Gamsjäger. Through representations of the real, the perception of the receiving persons and their individual paradigms are critical to the understanding of the real and to the judgment of reality.

This remarkable concept was originally commissioned by the Federal Chancellery of Austria in 2012, and has since been shown in modern and contemporary art museums in Serbia, Mexico, Cuba, Croatia, Italy, Turkey, Macedonia and France.

2. “Silent Poetry: Chinese Contemporary Ink”: an imaginary sound of ink paintings

Period: February 11, 2015 (Wednesday) to April 2, 2015 (Thursday)

“Silent Poetry” showcases Chinese ink paintings as if they are beautiful poems which contain no words and sound. Unlike so many of the mass-produced popular artworks today, these Chinese contemporary ink paintings differ from their traditional counterparts in terms of their form, style and techniques. Contemporary ink paintings challenge some concepts of traditional Chinese paintings and individual artists apply unconventional mediums, materials and tools to change the traditional painting practice and to break constraints while preserving their profound values at the same time. Participating artists include Chen Jun, Du Xiao-tong, Hao Shi-ming, Li Wei, Pan Wen-xun, Sun Hao, Xu Hua-ling, Xu Jia-cun and Zhu Zheng-ming.

To tie in with the exhibition, a wide range of activities including workshops entitled “Drawing in the Gallery (Family Class)” and “Artistic Creation: From Photo to Painting” will be held on February 28, 2015 and March 7, 2015 respectively; while an academic lecture entitled “Chinese Contemporary Ink Paintings on transformation, curation and collecting” will be held on March 14, 2015 to enhance the public’s knowledge of and interest in contemporary ink paintings.

Guided tours for schools
UMAG exhibitions will involve dedicated education and outreach activities. The museum welcomes all school groups as well as tertiary institutions to request guided tours led by trained docents during our touring hours (Monday-Saturday, 09:30 – 17:00). Guided tours are available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. To request an appointment, please contact Miss Elena Cheung on 2241-5512 or elenac@hku.hk for booking and further information.

UMAG opening hours:
09:30am – 6:00 pm(Mon to Sat)
1:00 – 6:00pm (Sun)
Closed on University and Public Holidays

Venue: 1/F Fung Ping Shan Building, University Museum and Art Gallery, the University of Hong Kong, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Fees: Free Admission
Website: www.umag.hku.hk/en/

3. Lunch Box: A Performance by Rainer Prohaska
Rainer Prohaska’s Lunch Box consists of wooden elements, kitchen utensils and crockery, as well as an art manual with instructions. The manual describes how all of the individual parts are to be assembled into a kitchen, and how the participating guests should prepare their individual meals. After the event, all of the parts can be de-installed, packed up and sent on to be re-created elsewhere for another occasion.

Prohaska has ample experience with cooking performances and he acts here, from backstage, like the producer of a play. The ‘actors’ are members of the general public, and they are given the opportunity to interpret the book and the subsequent preparation of their meals. Both the construction of the kitchen and the cooking exercise become part of the same performance.

Lunch Box is a form of artistic expression based around the act of cooking that combines architectural and social elements with the performing arts. Members of the public are cordially invited to make their own "Lunch Box" with the artist Rainer Prohaska. Details are as follows:

Date: March 11, 2015 (Wednesday)
Time: 1pm to 2pm
Venue: 1/F T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU.

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