(5 May 2023, Hong Kong) Organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation (HKIABF) in partnership with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, The HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibitions (RAX) announced details of its two architecture exhibition series today. The two roving architecture exhibition series are the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (VB) in Venice, Italy with Hong Kong Arts Development Council as Co-organiser, and the “Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing Roving Architecture Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Nanjing. Both series will be rolled out this year and return to Hong Kong with a response version in the first quarter of 2024.
The RAX aims to roll out roving architecture exhibition series in and beyond Hong Kong, including the Mainland and Belt and Road (B&R) countries, to reveal the unique characters of Hong Kong architecture and urbanism, and to promote Hong Kong’s creative industries in the international arena.
A press conference was held today at the newly renovated HKIA premise to announce the exhibition themes and introduce the respective curatorial teams. Officiating guests include Mr Kenneth Fok, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mrs. Lowell Cho, Assistant Head of CreateHK, Ar. Benny Chan, President of the HKIA and Ar. Julia Lau, Chairman of the HKIABF. Other attending guests include members of the two curatorial teams.
“Hong Kong is facing different challenges in the future as an international city, we see the need for new ways of design and a new way of life for architecture in the regions. The RAX will provide a platform for Hong Kong architects to showcase their architectural talents and a bridge for them to create more dialogues with the world in exploring themes such as cultural traditions, cultural diversity, social and architectural context, to deepen the collaboration and connection among building and design professionals from different regions. These encouraging opportunities should be captured to shape our soft power as well as strengthen our creative industries,” said Ar. Benny Chan, President of the HKIA, in the press conference.
Ar. Julia Lau also remarked that “The HKIABF is glad to corganise the Hong Kong Exhibition in physical format again at International Architecture Exhibition – Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition, which is one of the most prestigious biennales gathering architecture professionals from around the world. Under the curatorial team guided by Ar. Sarah Kwok Yan Lee, Professor Hendrik Tieben and Ar. Yutaka Yano, the “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition will feature the voices of a diverse group of creators who are distinctly Hong Kong in nature, and in vision.”
Mr Kenneth Fok said in the remarks that “Committed to establishing an overseas exchange platform for local architects and design talents, Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Hong Kong Institute of Architects have joined hands together to showcase our exceptional architectural art and design to the international audiences at the Venice Biennale Architecture since 2006. Throughout the years, we have witnessed the extraordinary advancement accomplished by our architects and artists, as well as the persistent efforts contributed by every member of the artistic team.”
Mrs. Lowell Cho, Assistant Head of CreateHK, expressed her gratitude to the HKIABF and Hong Kong Arts Development Council for organising and co-organising the Hong Kong exhibition at the International Architecture Exhibition – Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition again. She also wished the exhibition and the following exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur, Nanjing and Hong Kong every success.
“Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition
Collateral Event of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
When Hong Kong’s future is being transformed by such mega-projects as The Northern Metropolis and the East Lantau Metropolis, and by such innovations as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Hong Kong will continue to play a relevant role in the process of transformation. The “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition, set to be staged as Hong Kong’s Collateral Event at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition, is aimed to reveal Hong Kong’s constant transformation in responding to the world with the direction of creative visions in our city headed by our talented pool of design and architecture professionals.
It is arranged according to three designated scales – “Territorial Transformations”, “Architectural Transformations” and “Public Space Transformations”, combining a total of 11 sets of exhibits to showcase initiatives with interactive mixed media representations and visual essays, snapshots of this transformative moment in our city with focused themes on Hong Kong’s relationship with the Mainland, sustainability, climate change, technology and energy/resource management, and how the architectural collaborations and innovations have been using the city as the “laboratory” to meet the challenges faced by the future generation of Hong Kong.
The “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition at the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition will be exhibited from 20 May to 26 November this year in Venice, Italy. A response exhibition will then be held in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024, concurrently with the response exhibition to the “Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing Roving Architecture Exhibition. More information about the “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition will be released on the exhibition’s official website in due course.
Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between
Kuala Lumpur – Nanjing Roving Architecture Exhibition
Another exhibition series under the RAX, “Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between” is led by the curatorial team under Architect Professor Paul Chu, Architect Jacky Cheung and Mr Kan Chan. Over the last 25 years, the advancement of Hong Kong has been continuously supported by infrastructural expansion and innovations. The resultant utopian-type of development model has revealed connections at different scales to emerge – the “in-between”. It showcases different scales of contrast, e.g. between old and new buildings, private vs public space initiatives, the relationship between man-made and nature. They facilitate spontaneous interactions and linkages, both physically and spiritually, that stitch space, time and people up and assemble fragments in the city.
The exhibition includes 16 exhibitors with their imagination and interpretation of ‘in-betweens’ in Hong Kong and to explore Hong Kong’s different conditions of architecture and unique urban form through distinctive exhibits. In order to demonstrate where Hong Kong is contrasting while integrating, consistent yet ever-changing.
The exhibition will be showcased in Kuala Lumpur and Nanjing in July and October 2023 respectively, with a response exhibition in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024.
