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The internationally renowned “2013 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture (Hong Kong)” “UABB(HK) 2013”, formerly known as “the fourth Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale exhibition”, will be open in Kwun Tong on 11 December , 2013.
Being held at the dual- sites in Kwun Tong (Kwun Tong Ferry Pier and Fly the Flyover 01 at Energizing Kowloon East Office), Asia’s prestige architecture, design and planning event, will exhibit work by leading international and local design professionals, who will engage in a three month cultural dialogue, including satellite exhibitions, performances, film screenings, forums, workshops, guided tours and lectures with our Shenzhen counterparts in the Pearl River Delta and the Greater China Region.
The organizers are pleased to announce that this year’s Hong Kong Biennale is led by Chief Curator Prof. Colin Fournier along with Joshua Lau and Allen Poon of TETRA and Travis Bunt and Tat Lam of URBANUS.
The event is organized by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) in association with Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA), and Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture Organizing Committee. Besides various government departments, supporting organizations will include architecture and design, cultural and art-related institutions, as well as tertiary education institutions.
President of HKIA, Ms. Ada FUNG, said: “Since the first Biennale jointly organised by Shenzhen and Hong Kong taken place in 2007, Shenzhen and Hong Kong have laid down a solid foundation for co-operation in promoting creative industries. In this year’s Biennale, the organizers and Hong Kong curatorial team continue to work with our counterparts in Shenzhen to organise a robust biennale and a series associated event for people of all levels. This is a significant event of the institute.”
Background
In 2005, the Shenzhen Government organized the first Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism & Architecture with an aim to promote the city as the Mainland’s foremost city of creativity. In 2006, an initiative to co-organize future Biennales was formed between HKIA and the Shenzhen Planning Bureau to generate a synergy between these two vibrant urban centers in the region.
In 2007 the Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture held its inaugural event at the Central Police Station in Hong Kong. Not only was this the first bi-city biennale it was the first architecture, planning and design biennale of international standard hosted in Hong Kong.
Exploring Hong Kong’s relationship to Shenzhen
The curatorial theme of this year’s Biennale is Beyond the Urban Edge: The Ideal City? Under this theme, the curatorial team applies an innovative approach to explore and generate new ideas on what are the essentials that constitute an ideal city.
The curatorial team of this year’s Biennale is partnered by Professor Colin Fournier, and two design and architecture companies, namely Urbanus Architecture and Design (Urbanus) and Tetra Architects and Planners (Tetra). Professor Colin Fournier, the Chief Curator of the team, is currently a visiting Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Professor Fournier said: “As Hong Kong and the Mainland have developed a closer bond, the Biennale will draw particular attention to a number of special aspects of Hong Kong’s urban issues. From there we will explore the city’s remarkable relationship with Shenzhen, the Pearl River Delta, and to a greater extent, the whole of China.
To stimulate public discussion, we have invited exhibitors of different cultural backgrounds, both local and international, to take part in the Biennale, sharing their views from different perspectives and mediums.”
Around 90 local and overseas architects, designers and artists will participate in the around three-month Bi-City Biennale. Alongside the Biennale in Hong Kong, the “2013 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture (Shenzhen)”, will be held in parallel, from 6 December, 2013 to 28 February, 2014 in Shenzhen, under the theme of “Urban Border”, which echoes with Hong Kong’s “Beyond the Urban Edge: The Ideal City?”
Fast Facts
Event: 2013 Bi-City Urbanism\Architecture Biennale (Hong Kong) (UABBHK)
Theme: Urban Edge
Date: 20 December 2013 –28 February 2014
Venues: Kwun Tong Pier, FF01 at Energizing Kowloon East Office
Target Visitor: Mainland Chinese and overseas visitors Professionals in the art, architecture, design, planning, and cultural industries General public, including students and community groups
Projected No. Of Visitors: Approximately 100,000
Total No. Of Exhibitors: Approximately 90 (international and local)