Grand Opening of the response exhibition of Venice Architecture Biennale at Central Market
Jointly organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation (HKIABF) and The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) as the Lead Sponsor, the “HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibitions” (Roving Exhibitions series) touring in Venice, Kuala Lumpur and Nanjing last year, is finally returned to Hong Kong. This final stop contains the response exhibition to the Transformative Hong Kong Exhibition (Hong Kong Exhibition) at the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia with Hong Kong Arts Development Council as Co-organiser to be held at the Central Market from today to 11 March, as well as the Hong Kong stop of the Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition which will be staged at Kai Tak AIRSIDE from 23 February to 11 March. Both exhibitions are open to the public for free admission.
A Grand Opening Ceremony for the final stop in Hong Kong was held on 2 February 2024 at the Central Market. The Guest of Honour Mr Raistlin Lau, JP, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR kicked off both exhibitions together with Mr Ye Shuiqiu, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General for The Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, Dr Frankie Yeung, BBS, MH, JP, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mrs Lowell Cho, Assistant Head of CreateHK, Ar Julia Lau, JP, OStJ, Chairperson of the HKIABF, Ar Benny Chan, President of the HKIA, and the curatorial teams of both exhibitions.
The celebration of the pinnacle was kick-started with a breathtaking live performance of the Italian masterpieces by guest performers Ms Stella Tsang (Piano Solo: Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia) and Chiesa d'Oro) and Ar Polly Tsang (Singing Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro) on stage.
In the Grand Opening Ceremony, Ar Julia Lau JP, OStJ, Chairman of the HKIABF, remarked that “Hong Kong Exhibition was successfully concluded in the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia last year and was well received by international media with over ten thousands of visitors. We are thrilled to have the exhibition back to Hong Kong as the finale and bespeak the innovative designs and concepts of our architects in responding to the critical issues of territorial, architectural and urban space transformation that Hong Kong is facing.”
Speaking on the same occasion, Ar Benny Chan, President of the HKIA, Partner of the Hong Kong Exhibition remarked that the Roving Exhibition series not only joined as one of the collateral events of the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia, but also rolled out in Kuala Lumpur and Nanjing to showcase Hong Kong’s unique architectural culture and urbanism to worldwide audiences, as well as encourage experts and the public to respond to the future challenges in spatial planning of our city. Meanwhile, it is a perfect opportunity to initiates dialogues with professionals between Hong Kong and the world with a vision to build a sustainable city.
Response Exhibition to Transformative Hong Kong Exhibition Collateral Event of The 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition
Date: 2 February to 11 March 2024
Venue: 1/F Event Space and Bridge, Central Market, 93 Queen’s Road Central and 80 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
Time: 10am – 10pm
Free admission
For exhibition details, please visit http://2023.vbexhibitions.hk/
Guests of Honour Mr Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR Government, Dr Frankie Yeung, Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Arts Development Council and other officiating guests at the Grand Opening Ceremony of the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibitions (Final Stop – Hong Kong) opened the two exhibitions under the themes Transformative Hong Kong and Harmony in Diversity – Connecting the Metropolis by in-between.
Ar Sarah Lee and Ar Professor Hendrik Tieben, the curatorial team of the Transformative Hong Kong Exhibition at the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia, introduced the theme and the exhibition concepts to the attending guests at the Grand Opening Ceremony. The exhibition consists of 11 sets of exhibits, aiming 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.
The curatorial team and exhibitors of the Transformative Hong Kong Exhibition at the 18th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia led a preview tour for the officiating guests who were deeply impressed by the design and concepts behind the visionary works.