Civil society and art are often in a dynamic interrelationship: social themes that are perceived as relevant and meaningful find their expression in the arts. And art offers a medium for social debates. Hong Kong, with its vibrant cultural and creative scene and a very active civil society, is an impressive testimony to this.
The Goethe-Institut is opening a new series of discussion on the topic of civil society and art, in which various areas will be focused on in loose succession. The fourth discussion will focus on Visual Art in Public Space. Artists Wen Yau, Kacey Wong and Him Lo will share their thoughts on the topic in relation to the society that they live in. The discussion will be moderated by Vivienne Chow.
Invited by HALLE 14 - Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, Germany and supported by Goethe-Institut Hongkong, Wen Yau participates in “The Ends of Freedom” exhibition which runs from 7 September to 7 December 2019. A live performance on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall will be conducted by Wen Yau at the exhibition venue.
Lo creates mixed-media sculptures and installation art apart from painting. He is also a performance artist and presented in Hong Kong International Performance Art Festival 2014. For the last few years, he actively involved in community art and community empowerment. He has been the curator of the Hong Kong House of Stories from 2012 to 2016, which strives to arouse public concern on the regional and cultural conservation. To work with the public (or “kaifong”, the residents and people living in a specific community) develop more discussions on the issues of community and cultural conversation, the Hong Kong House of Stories carries out research and record on community histories and cultures. It also invites traditional craftsmen, organic farmers and housewives as workshop instructors to share the craft skills and culture of the community.
