Teacher takes Russian art to the next step

Teacher takes Russian art to the next step – Bonnie Chen (The Standard - 15/12/08)

Despite the financial crisis, a Russian art teacher plans to open her second Hong Kong art school in Mid-Levels next month.

Anastasia Katafygiotis, who landed in Hong Kong several years ago to teach at the University of Science and Technology, opened her first school in Sai Kung in 2006.

Two years later, she is ready for a second school-in an area where rents are three to four times higher than in Sai Kung.

However, the CEO of Anastasia’s Art House believes there is a market for a second art school and that Mid-Levels is a prime location for a gallery showcasing works by Russian artists.

She said most people associate arts and culture with France and Italy, which are seen as the cradles of western art, but cited renowned and influential Russian artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Borisov Musatov and Konstantin Korovin.

Indeed, paintings influenced by those Russian masters are found everywhere at Katafygiotis’ school in Sai Kung.

“Some Hong Kong people are keen to learn about Russian art even though some of my students prefer to concentrate on Western masters like Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt,” Katafygiotis said.

Half the school’s 500 students are locals and the rest are Westerners. Seventy percent are children.

She said Hong Kong’s relaxed immigration policy has made it easier for her to hire teachers from Russia and other eastern European countries. It used to take almost a year to get permission to hire a Russian artist, but it now takes only a few months.

“Hong Kong is a metropolitan city with artists from around the world who I can employ as teachers. But I also hire artists who have graduated from universities in Hong Kong,” Katafygiotis said.

She hopes to eventually enter the mainland market.

“Hong Kong has a free environment for art development which you cannot easily find flourish when the West Kowloon Cultural District is completed.” Katafygiotis said.

2. Summary

The financial crisis is the top issue nowadays, but someone still has the confidence to open her new school to teach and promote the Russian art. Anastasia Katafygiotis landed in Hong Kong several years ago and open her first school in Kai Kung in 2006. And now, she intends to launch her second school despite of the financial crisis. She said most people are keen to learn Russian art, even though they prefer to focus on Western masters’ painting. Anyway, she admired the relaxed immigration policy of Hong Kong which has made it easier for her to hire teachers from the world.

3. Feedback

Culture is very important for a city, especially for an international metropolis. Hong Kong Government forces the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District that I think it will be further flourished. And I also admire Hong Kong Government actually because of her relaxed immigration policy which helps a host of people to hire their suitable and professional candidates from the world. Although most of people deemed that the Government does not focus on pushing the development of culture, she has spent a lot on it. In addition, I think we need to help and push the development of art as well. And Anastasia’s course is a good method to increase the knowledge of art. Also, I want to learn more about the different culture through the artwork which can teach me about Russian culture that I like it very much.