Kingsley Ng, Hung Keung, Silas Fong, Leung Chi Wo, Adrian Wong, Leung Mee Ping, Howard Cheng Chi Lai, Linda Lai Chiu Han, Kacey Wong, Chow Chun Fai, Ip Yuk Yiu, MAP Office (Gutierrez + Portefaix), Ban Zhang, Woo Ling Ling, Choi Sai Ho

This Is Hong Kong presents a selection of artists from Hong Kong that reflect on the idea of politics, history, architecture, postcolonial issues and daily life in this territory. The moving image has been one of the areas favored with an intense research in the creative practice of the Hong Kong art scene, and mark a stark difference with that of mainland China, reflecting on differences in cultural background and academic training. This Is Hong Kong presents a unique visual picture of what is Hong Kong now, through an analyses from video media, providing a fresh snapshot of development of the territory after postcolonial devolution in 1997.

The videoprogramme starts with Hong Kong’s skyline in Kingsley Ng’s recreation of a light/sound score at night. Hung Keung delves us in the neighborhood of Yau Ma Tei and its underworld. Adrian Wong cinematic engages in the rituals of the famous Chinese Triads. Meanwhile artists like Leung Chi Wo, MAP Office and Kacey Wong focus on the architectural development of the city that has created some of the most impressive designs in the world. These works partly connect also with the notion of experimental cinema, particularly Suck/Blow created by Leung Chi Wo. Howard Cheng Chi Lai builds a “tableaux” of traditional neighborhoods through the analytical work The Doors. An intimate and personal view of Hong Kong is provided by video artists like Linda Lai Chiu Han and Woo Ling Ling. A more political side of Hong Kong is brought into life in Ban Zhang, whose animation searches on the notion of identity, Choi Sai Ho, who follow a political demonstration in the city, and Chow Chun Fai, reflecting on the postcolonial status of this region. Ip Yuk Yiu work establishes a connection with Hong Kong’s past through the film industry.  Finally, Leung Mee Ping and Silas Fong dwell on the notion of the large metropolis and the solitude and inequalities of life in the big city.

Para Site Art Space is honoured to announce the international tour of This Is Hong Kong. “This is a great opportunity to show at an international level the vibrant art scene of Hong Kong”, comments the curator Alvaro Rodriguez Fominaya. Touring partners include: LOOP Festival at Casa Asia (Barcelona, May 29 – May 30, 2009), Alternative Space LOOP (Seoul, Jul 4 – Aug 24, 2009), subvision. art. festival. off. (Hamburg, Aug 26 – Sep 6, 2009), Eastside Projects (Birmingham, Sep 26 – Nov 8, 2009), MAP Office (Hong Kong, Oct 23, 2009), ifa Galerie (Berlin, Nov 26, 2009), Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts (Taipei, Jan 16 – Mar 28, 2010), and Kunsthalle Wien (Vienna, Mar 1 – Mar 31, 2010).

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More materials are available to view on site at Para Site. 

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The Archive Project is financially supported by the Project Grant of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.