HKJC The Eighth 2021 Collection


Hong Kong Jockey Club New Extension
The Hilltop in the Valley

The Eighth (8/F Entertainment Area)

Art Commission for The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Developed in collaboration with Madison Asia Limited

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, one of Asia's most influential cultural patrons and a leading force in contemporary art collecting, commissioned Bernard to create a series of eight paintings inspired by the world of horse racing at venues including Happy Valley and Shatin in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Conghua.

Working in the same visual language as his Relational Lines series, Bernard distilled each racetrack into minimal lines and expansive color fields. With just a few essential gestures, he captures the explosive power of galloping horses, the concentration of riders, the refined enthusiasm of elegantly dressed spectators. Movement becomes pure line. Strength compresses into essential form. Yet nothing is lost. The paintings vibrate with the velocity, grace, and collective excitement of the moment.

The HKJC commission demonstrates that Bernard's minimalist vocabulary is not about subtraction, but about revealing. His reductive language doesn't diminish intensit. It amplifies it. The viewer experiences the full kinetic drama of the scene through disciplined restraint.

This body of work stands as proof: Bernard's approach to form and reduction works equally powerfully whether exploring abstract relationships or capturing the raw energy of lived spectacle.

  • Beas River Country Club, Hong Kong
    Nestled in the idyllic landscape of the New Territories, the Beas River Country Club is a serene sanctuary and the exclusive equestrian heart of the renowned Hong Kong Jockey Club. As a proud host of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events, the venue seamlessly blends world-class sporting excellence with traditional elegance. Beyond its state-of-the-art training facilities, the club offers a tranquil retreat for relaxation and serves as a meaningful haven where retired racehorses find a dignified new home.

  • "Happy Valley" (historically known as Wong Nai Chung / Yellow Mud River) has a fascinating and somewhat dark history.

    Before the British built the famous racecourse in 1846, the valley was a malaria-infested swamp. When a deadly epidemic broke out there among the British soldiers, the swamp was drained and a large cemetery complex was built. The British then ironically and poetically renamed the area "Happy Valley" - which at the time was a typical British euphemism for a final resting place.

    Shortly thereafter, they built the racecourse right next to it, transforming the place from a sad valley of cemeteries into the lively, iconic entertainment center it is today.

  • "Happy Wednesday" takes place at the Jockey Club – specifically, directly on the tracks of the Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

    It is not an event inside the private Beijing Clubhouse (which is a quiet, restricted sanctuary for members). Instead, it is one of Hong Kong's most famous, vibrant, and publicly accessible weekly events.

    Every Wednesday evening, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) transforms the entire racecourse into a massive open-air party. While horses race past on the track, tourists, expats, and locals gather for live music, beer gardens, food trucks, and rotating themed festivals (like Oktoberfest or Neon Nights). It is essentially the city's ultimate weekly street party and a legendary Hong Kong nightlife staple.

  • The Beijing Clubhouse is a highly exclusive, private members' club located in the Happy Valley district of Hong Kong. Interestingly, despite its name, it is operated by the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

    Built as a luxury bridge between mainland China and Hong Kong, it serves as an elite hub for high-profile networking, business meetings, and fine dining. It seamlessly blends traditional Chinese hospitality with Hong Kong's British-influenced equestrian heritage, offering access strictly to an affluent, vetted community