The Hong Kong Collateral Event at
the 17th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition
Virtual Exhibition Featuring 360° Interactive Experience Goes Online

Interactive virtual exhibition period: starts from November 24, 2020 Website access: http://2021.vbexhibitions.hk/virtual-exhibition/

For the first time, an interactive virtual exhibition will be held for the Hong Kong Collateral Event at the 17^th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition (the Hong Kong Collateral Event) by the organisers and curatorial team, allowing the public to gain access via mobile phones, tablets or computers, anytime and anywhere in order to preview the creative works of the local exhibitors.

Visitors can click the images of various exhibits on the screen to understand the corresponding design concepts. They will also enjoy the sensation of ‘being there’ as a result of the 360-degree spherical video effect, making it a highly exciting and dynamic experience.

Scheduled to go online from November 24, this first ever interactive virtual exhibition will showcase a diverse array of 20 works, including 14 physical and 6 video exhibits. This edition achieves a record of 54 companies and organisations taking part in the Hong Kong Collateral Event, such as the Wharf Group, Chinachem Group, HSBC and other conglomerates, as well as local and international architect firms, including Rocco Design Architects Associates, Kohn Pedersen Fox, and others. In addition, various higher education institutions like The University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Design Institute and others, plus various NGOs are participating in this event as exhibitors.

The Hong Kong Collateral Event is co-organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in partnership with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), together with Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor. The designated curatorial team comprises chief curator Donald Choi, president-elect of the HKIA as well as executive director and CEO of the Chinachem Group. He joins hand with other curators, namely Paul Mui and Benny Lee, co-founders of BREADstudio; Agnes Hung, senior architect at the Inhabit Group; Yu Ka Sing, assistant professor of practice for the Architectural Conservation Programme at The University of Hong Kong; and Dr. Lee Ho Yin, co-founder of The University of Hong Kong’s Architectural Conservation Programme, in curating the Hong Kong Collateral Event.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 17^th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition has been postponed to May of next year. Apart from the launch of the virtual exhibition, a separate large-scale physical exhibition is scheduled to be held at the City Gallery in January 2021 so that the public can preview the exhibition before it is held in Venice.

In order to explore greater possibilities that exist under a new lifestyle paradigm, the  Hong Kong curatorial team has selected ‘Redistribution: Land, People, and Environment’ as the theme for the Hong Kong Collateral Event. Exhibitors have been tasked with proposing innovative ideas centred on the redistribution of those three critical resources that will enhance Hong Kong’s overall liveability, and address the various challenges as well as opportunities the Territory now faces. The exhibitors share their thoughts on how to best utilise available land resources and take advantage of the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area network to improve liveability as well as addressing Hong Kong’s ageing population issues.