This interview is part of Hong Kong Art History Research Project – Phase II, a collaboration between Asia Art Archive and Hong Kong Museum of Art. It was conducted at Robert O'Brien's studio on 7 July 2015.

Biography:
Robert O'Brien (b. 1939, Southampton, UK)

After training in theatre design, Robert O'Brien worked as a full time artist in London and Munich from 1964–75 before moving to Hong Kong in 1976 and choosing to reside on the outlying island of Cheung Chau. Until the 1980s he taught at various institutions in Hong Kong, including the Department of Extra Mural Studies at the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Academy of Performing Arts.

In this interview, O'Brien discusses his experience of developing an independent practice on Cheung Chau Island, and of teaching at the Department of Extra Mural Studies at the University of Hong Kong. He provides an account of key exhibitions during the 1980s–1990s and discusses the role of the British Council in Hong Kong’s art ecology. He also talks about the self-organisation of artists and artist groups in the ecology, including Artist Commune. Another topic is his views on the relative (and changing) position of non-Chinese minorities in Hong Kong.

O'Brien lives in Hong Kong.

Interviewer
Hammad Nasar is the Head of Research and Programmes at Asia Art Archive

此訪談為香港藝術史研究 — 第二期的一部分。訪談於2015年7月7日在白禮仁工作室進行。

白禮仁
1939 年生於英國修咸頓。

白禮仁曾接受劇場設計訓練，並於1964至75年間於英國倫敦及德國慕尼黑從事全職藝術創作。他於1976年自英國移居香港後，定居長洲，曾於多間機構任教至1980年代，其中包括香港大學校外課程部、香港理工大學及香港演藝學院。

白禮仁於訪問中分享他以獨立藝術家身份在長洲發展藝術事業的經驗，回顧其在香港大學校外課程部任教的日子，並細述他對1980及90年代本地一些重要展覽的印象，以及探討英國文化協會、香港藝術家自發組織和藝術羣體如藝術公社等在香港藝術生態下所扮演的角色。期間，他亦談及非華裔少數族群在香港（蛻變中）的定位。

白禮仁現居香港。

訪問員
Hammad Nasar 為亞洲藝術文獻庫研究及項目總監。