Collectors and Collecting
VIEW EVENT DETAILSBrunch Panel Discussion with Collectors with Lynn Fung, Liangyi Musuem; Dorothy Goldman, Peter and Paula Lunder, Henk Nieuwenhuys; and S. Alice Mong, Executive Director, Asia Society Hong Kong Center (Moderator)
Sparkling wine brunch at 10:30 am
Discussion at 11:00 am
Close at 12.00 am
Private collections begin with an individual’s interest and desire to acquire and possess objects of a certain kind, and this passion transcends from one generation to the next. These collections have a fascinating history and often include rare and treasured pieces of work that have historical significance. Ultimately, what becomes of these collections? How often do they get bequeathed to a museum? And, how do museums maintain the integrity and coherence of the collection? Invited panelists include private collectors who will discuss the genesis of their individual collections, and their endeavors to make their prized objects available for the public to view.
Lynn Fung is the managing director of Liang Yi Museum on Hollywood Road. After having received her BA from Northwestern University and MA from King’s College London (both in literature), she returned to Hong Kong to help her father, collector Peter Fung, start Hong Kong’s largest private museum, which houses two of the world’s largest collections of antiques. As managing director, her duties include reaching out to local educational institutes to see how the museum can help encourage and foster local design talent; increase public interest in the museum’s collections; as well as build relationships with international museums to bring noteworthy exhibits to Hong Kong.
Dorothy Goldman is an avid collector of Rare and important Americana documents, Ming and Qing monochromes, Blanc de Chine, 17th/18th C. vessels, Neolithic through Song dynasty ceramics and sculpture, Ming dynasty furniture, American and European drawings, watercolors, and gouaches. In addition to collecting, Ms. Goldman is on the board of many note-worthy museums including Smithsonian American Art Museum, Harvard University Art Museum, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, The Jewish Theological Seminary, and The Supreme Court Historical Society.
Peter and Paula Lunder, formerly of Waterville, Maine, have strong ties to Colby College and its museum. Mr. Lunder graduated from Colby in 1956, and both Mr. and Mrs. Lunder received honorary degrees from the College in 1998. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lunder have been committed to the College and the museum and have served on the museum’s Board of Governors since 1995. In that year, they pledged the lead gift to the museum's Lunder Wing, designed by architect Frederick Fisher and inaugurated in 1999. That same year, they also endowed a curatorial position at the museum, the Lunder Curator of American Art. In 2007, they promised their collection of more than 500 works of art to the College. Mr. Lunder was the vice chairman of the Smithsonian Institution's national board and served on the board at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Henk Nieuwenhuys awarded with The Magnolia Silver Award from the City of Shanghai in 2012 resides and works in Shanghai. He works in business consultancy and represents European companies in China and sets up cooperations in EU for Chinese companies. He is an avid collector of the Chinese ancient works of art. He inherited the collection of Blue and White Chinese export porcelain from his grandfather and father. Mr. Nieuwenhuys donated a large piece of the collection, 97 objects worth HKD 30 million to the Shanghai Museum. He is the first western person to do so and others have followed since. In return, the Shanghai Museum has exhibited their "Imperial" collection for the first time outside of China to Europe, in the Netherlands.
S. Alice Mong became the Executive Director of Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK) in August of 2012. Prior to returning to Hong Kong, Ms. Mong was the Director of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), overseeing the entire expansion project of the 30-year old organization. Ms. Mong stepped down as the Director of MOCA in July 2011 after successfully transforming the museum from a New York Chinatown institution to become the leading national museum, dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Chinese people and presenting to the descents born and raised in the US. Ms. Mong also served as the Executive Director for the Committee of 100, a non-profit membership organization formed by a group of distinguished Chinese-American professionals. The organization was founded by the world-class architect, I.M. Pei and an internationally famed cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. (Moderator).