Hong Kong’s recent socio-political landscape has been charged with overt acts of resistance: from protests against the demolition of the Star Ferry Terminal and Queen’s Pier (2008), to controversy surrounding the relocation of Choi Yuen Village residents for the Guangzhou-Hong Kong high speed rail (2009–10), to the ‘Umbrella Movement’ (2014–15). Often remembered for mass occupation of city streets and moments of violent clashes, these events have given way to various projects and social practices that are being sustained by artists and creative practitioners who continue to reflect on, and respond to, the urgencies relevant to them as citizens.

How does art weave itself with political consciousness? What forms can this interweaving take? What kinds of propositions do they put forward? Developed in collaboration with 2015 AAA resident Ricky Yeung, the 2016 edition of Hong Kong Conversations explores how a new generation of creative practitioners is claiming Hong Kong’s social fabric as a site of practice and potential change through daily acts and small-scaled projects.

Online registration is now closed. Walk-ins are welcome.

Please contact us via learn@aaa.org.hk or 2844 1121 with enquiries.

Programme Details: 

Field Experiments | 10:30am–12:30pm

Field Experiments

Collaborative efforts between creative practitioners and local communities are taking various approaches in terms of artistic and social practices—while some highlight the individual’s capacity to realise change, others aspire to building a collective with shared concerns. How do these groups negotiate the ethical implications embedded in their respective contexts and approaches?


Pamela Cheung, workshop leader of HK Neighbirdhood
Patrick Fung, crew member of The Street Store@HK & Sum Siu Restaurant
Kwok Yat Long, designer of Farmer Street Seller
Michael Leung & Flyingpig, members of Kai Fong Pai Dong
Bond Wong, designer of Viet Kieu Ca Phe

Panel Chair: Ricky Yeung, artist and educator
Youth Moderator: Mickey Lee, student of Fine Arts Department, The University of Hong Kong

8-minute Propositions | 2:15–3:45pm

8-minute Propositions

A platform to present artworks by students from eight secondary and tertiary institutions that respond to Hong Kong’s current socio-political climate.

Speakers:
Chan Tsz Him, HKBUAS Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School
Cheng Sheung Yee, Po Leung Kuk Lee Shing Pik College
Cheng Wing Tung, Pooi To Middle School
Francia Racquel Esteban, St. Margaret’s Girls’ College
Fok Hiu Tung, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity
Lam Wai Yan, The Hong Kong Institute of Education
Man Ho Cheung, CCC Mong Man Wai College
Angela Tam, Munsang College

Panel Chair: Ricky Yeung, artist and educator
Youth Moderator: Christy Chow, student of School of Creative Media, The City University of Hong Kong

Independent Voices | 4–7pm

Independent Voices

Five emerging creative practitioners/groups stemming from indie music, theatre, filmmaking, printing and publishing gather to discuss how they carved out creative spaces for audiences to engage in independent productions and performances. What does it mean to have an independent practice to these individuals, and why is it necessary? What spaces of expression are they interested in creating for the audiences? The talk also features a screening and performance by several of the speakers. 

Speakers:
Lo King Yee, co-founder of Print Studio Ink’chacha
Siuyea, independent filmmaker
Adrian Tsing, founder of Music is Free Foundation
Tsui Siu Hong, Creative Director of Tomoto Theatre
Jeffrey Yeung, founder of online zine store tothepowerofz

Panel Chair: Indy Lee, Head of Performing Arts Education, the Performing Arts Education Centre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Youth Moderator: Sharon Lee, student of Fine Arts Department, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Panel Chairs
Indy Lee
is Head of Performing Arts Education at The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA). He graduated from the School of Drama at HKAPA, and received an MA in Applied Theatre (Drama in the Community and Drama Education) at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He was awarded the Asian Cultural Council Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship. Lee is active in performing and directing theatre productions as an independent artist as well as a core member of Hong Kong Dramatists.

Ricky Yeung is an artist and art educator who conducts community arts projects for diverse audiences to cultivate an appreciation for the city of Hong Kong. Yeung’s works have been shown at the City University of Hong Kong, Fringe Club, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong Museum of Arts, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, Para Site, Sha Tin Town Hall, and the University of Hong Kong. He is the recipient of the 2007 Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence (Arts Education) and was Asia Art Archive’s first educator-in-residence in 2015.

Community engagement is central to his practice, which includes his role as chair of Video Power (1999–2002), committee member of Curriculum Development (Visual Art) Education Bureau (2004–2013), chair of Center of Community Cultural Development (2010–present), and committee member of Society of Indigenous Learning (2013–present). Yeung has been an art education columnist with Sunday Mingpao since 2009.

Learning and Participation Programme Sponsor:

Co-presenter:

Design Partner:
Sam Wong

Relevant content

Image: Ricky Yeung, Educator-in-Residence, 2015.
Educator-in-Residence | Ricky Yeung Sau Churk
Programmes | Residency Programme

Educator-in-Residence | Ricky Yeung Sau Churk

Apr–Aug 2015