Hong Kong Arts Development Council presents JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power after the deluge by media artist Kingsley Ng 6 – 31 January 2018

Using Tai Hang Tung Storage Tank as an exhibition venue for the first time

#JCNewArtsPower #OurTalentsOurPride

(Hong Kong, 20 December 2017) after the deluge is the second exhibition within the JOCKEY CLUB New Arts Power programme and is presented by internationally acclaimed media artist Kingsley Ng. after the deluge opens to the public from Saturday 6 to Wednesday 31 January 2017 at Tai Hang Tung Storage Tank. The underground space has been made available for Ng’s site-specific work of art in an unprecedented move from the Drainage Services Department, who have been hugely supportive of the idea from the outset. Tai Hang Tung Storage Tank will be taken over by after the deluge for three weeks, during which the unique space will be open for guided tours.

The exhibition continues Ng’s exploration of human response to nature in extreme weather, and the impact of climate change, it is a theme that was initiated in his 2016 work Spring: A Homage to Liang Quan at the OzAsia Festival in Adelaide. Inspired by the ancient Chinese myth, Yu the Great, which tells the story of the legendary ruler famed for his visionary flood control initiatives, the installation draws attention to the unknown heroes continuously working on Hong Kong’s flood control, and their heritage which is so uniquely Hong Kong’s.

Tai Hang Tung Storage Tank was the first large-scale underground flood storage tank in Hong Kong. Finished in 2004, the tank has the capacity of 40 Olympic-size swimming pools, and was created in response to severe flooding in the late 90s – so bad that Nathan Road was dubbed Nathan River. A restricted area with a purpose and location until now largely unknown to the public, the tank is an important part of Hong Kong’s extensive underground world. By metaphorically and literally digging beneath the surface, Ng brings to light a completely new view of Hong Kong, and by using the space for artistic celebration of the city’s heritage and drainage infrastructure aims to both educate and inspire. after the deluge uses light installation and sound navigation to create an interactive exhibition that stimulates an underwater immersion. The dark and underground space that is Tai Hang Tung Storage Tank is thus transformed into a space for contemplation, inviting the public to explore and appreciate what can easily remain unseen.

“My recent work both in Hong Kong and Adelaide is about how humans respond to nature in extreme weather, and the impact of climate change. Thanks to the Drainage Services Department I am able to explore the theme in a way that is specific to Hong Kong. I hope after the deluge will be enjoyed, I also hope it will open new perspectives and understanding in public, and that as a result they will appreciate more the unknown heroes continuously tackling urban floods.” said Kingsley Ng.

“We are delighted that Kingsley has chosen to work so closely with us for this project, flood prevention has a vitally important role to play in Hong Kong and it is exciting and refreshing to have our work and vision told through art, rather than the theoretical information our engineers are able to provide. after the deluge will help the public understand hydraulic engineering and its heritage in Hong Kong in a more creative way,” said Mr. Y F Kan, Assistant Director/Operations & Maintenance for Drainage Services Department.