Looking for the hottest arts and cultural exhibitions in Hong Kong to mark your social calendar?
These are the nine not-to-be-missed event highlights worth saving the date for this July.
From Cantonese opera performances at Xiqu Centre to the 20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition and a celebration of ink art at Ink City and more…
Until 29 Aug
Tea House Theatre Experience
West Kowloon’s arts and cultural hub Xiqu Centre presents a new season of the Tea House Theatre Experience. Starring the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe, the performance features new selections of music and beloved sung pieces from the traditional repertoire, as well as two Cantonese opera excerpts – one classic and one newly written. Designed to introduce new audiences to Cantonese opera and inspire a younger generation of event-goers to appreociate one of the city’s oldest art form, the show runs weekly from Thursday to Sunday.
How much: From HK$270
Where: Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District.
More info: westkowloon.hk
Until 26 Aug
20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition
Explore the connection between print art and creative new media at a showcase of 20 multifaceted artworks by masters and emerging young artists. Co-organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Hong Kong Open Printshop, 20/20 Hong Kong Print Art Exhibition celebrates the museum’s 20th anniversary. Diverse graphics dating from 1940 to 2020 were selected to answer 20 questions about the print-art medium.
How much: Free entry
Where: Thematic Galleries 3 and 4, 1/F, Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
More info: heritagemuseum.gov.hk
Until 31 Jul
Discover Crafts: Tea
Atreat for tea aficionados awaits at mixed-use art and design venue PMQ. Pour over exquisite tea leaves fused with the principles of Chinese medicine from Tea Heals and a special collection of Tokoname and Arita Japanese teaware from HULS Gallery. All items presented in this brilliant showcase of tea-inspired craftsmanship are available for purchase at the Soil Studio shop.
How much: Free entry
Where: Unit S307, Block A, PMQ
More info: pmq.org.hk
Until 31 Jul
Women Direct. Korean Indies!
An independent film series that portrays realistic images of women, Women Direct. Korean Indies! underscores the growing number of female filmmakers in South Korea and their ability to get their voices heard. Aired by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival and the Seoul Independent Film Festival, five months of screenings conclude in July with a trio of shorts, The Pregnant Tree and The Goblin, which debuted at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival in 2019.
How much: HK$80
Where: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
More info: hkac.org.hk
Until 1 Aug
Ink City
Often caught between an overwhelming urbanism and the triviality of everyday life, Hong Kong artists have the power to shape ideas and society. Visionaries working in the medium of ink are brought together in Ink City, an illuminating exhibition that offers observations, commentaries and even deconstructions of contemporary culture during significant periods along the city’s timeline, including the end of the colonial era and the rise of globalisation.
How much: Free entry
Where: JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, Central
More info: taikwun.hk
Until 31 Aug
Please Be Seated
Swire Properties Arts Month returns with an impressive line-up of inspiring works of art, including the highly anticipated Please Be Seated by acclaimed London-based artist Paul Cocksedge. The large-scale wood installation designed especially for Hong Kong, is inspired by the ebb and flow of city life and crafted from sustainably sourced timber. The rise and curve of its arches prompt visitors to interact and engage with the space, whether it is to pass through, stop or sit awhile.
How much: Free entry
Where: Taikoo Park, Taikoo Place
More info: swireproperties.com
Until 3 Nov
Art of South Nanling
Reflect on the development of art in Lingnan and how artists in this part of Guangdong province paved the way for the modernisation of Chinese painting. Featuring more than 80 works from the late Ming dynasty to the 20th century, Art of the South Nanling: A Selection of Guangdong Painting from the Hong Kong Museum of Art is a fascinating exploration of a regional style that influenced artists not only in Hong Kong, but also further north.
How much: Free entry
Where: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Gallery, 4/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art.
More info: hk.art.museum
Until 5 Jan
Not A Fashion Store!
Clothing, shoes and accessories take centre stage at a unique art exhibition presented by the Hong Kong Museum of Art. NOT a fashion store! explores the relationship between fashion trends and societal issues underlying daily routines, aesthetic values and pop culture. This thought-provoking and fashionable showcase dips into HKMoA’s four core collections, from ancient to modern and classic to contemporary.
How much: Free entry
Where: The Wing, G/F & 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
More info: hk.art.museum
4 -19 Jul
Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No.2
A cheeky way to get you moving this summer can be found at The Box in West Kowloon’s Freespace venue, which has been transformed into an interactive gallery of swaying pendulums. Presented by Rolex, the installation is the Asian premiere of choreographer William Forsythe’s Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No.2; the objective is to dodge and weave through the space and, in doing so, create a dance of your own.
How much: From HK$150
Where: The Box, Freespace, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District
More info: westkowloon.hk