CEBU, Philippines — March is a good time to explore
Hong Kong – particularly the city’s art-and-culture side. The sunny days allow for a walk around the city’s nooks and crannies. And the city’s art scene bubbles up during the entire month, wherein visitors are welcome to participate in the various activities.
There’s a plethora of arts and cultural events around the city, including the internationally renowned Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central. These two events provide rare occasions for enjoying famous art pieces and, well, rubbing shoulders with the glitterati at the same time. And with the latest cultural venues and street artworks that have emerged in recent months, art-and- culture enthusiasts are sure to find Hong Kong the perfect place where to immerse in artsy ambience.
Visitors in Hong Kong will have a lavish visual feast at Art Basel Hong Kong from March 29 to 31, and at Art Central from March 27 to 31, the mainstay of Hong Kong Arts Month. Now in its seventh year, Art Basel Hong Kong is returning to the conveniently located Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with 242 galleries from 36 countries, 21 of which are new to the show.
Art Central also boasts of its own strong line-up, with over 100 galleries to showcase art from around the globe. The fifth edition is likewise featuring carefully curated performances, large-scale installations, new media art and talks. Appreciating art aside, patrons are to enjoy a riveting view of Victoria Harbour and the city’s signature skyline at the Central Harbourfront venue.
Various important cultural venues have sprung up in Hong Kong over the past 10 months. One of these is Xiqu Centre, which opened in January this year. The Center is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Cantonese opera.
Xiqu Center is noteworthy not simply for being the first venue in the much-anticipated West Kowloon Cultural District to open its doors, but also for its striking architectural design that juxtaposes traditional and modern elements. With a futuristic form and a steel structure, the eight-storey edifice is in fact a reinterpretation of the traditional Chinese lantern, whereas its façade is shaped to resemble the parted curtains on a performing stage. Aside from admiring the architecture, visitors are also to enjoy an intimate Cantonese opera viewing experience over traditional tea and dim sum at the Tea House Theatre.
Another recent talk of the town is The Mills, a former textile factory transformed into an innovation and cultural hub. Situated in Tsuen Wan, once an industrial area and now a major residential district, The Mills celebrates the golden days of Hong Kong’s textile industry and carries on the legacy by nurturing the city’s creative talents. Inside the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT) that is set to open this month, visitors can learn about the history of Hong Kong’s textile industry and the current local and global textile arts landscape. Visitors may experience the manual cotton-spinning process using traditional spinning instruments at CHAT’s “Welcome to the Spinning Factory!” exhibition. Starting March 16, visitors can appreciate the array of contemporary textile arts displayed at the “Unfolding: Fabric of Our Life” exhibition.
Another key heritage site worth visiting is Tai Kwun, one of the city’s largest heritage revitalization projects which took a decade and billions of Hong Kong dollars to complete. Three iconic declared monuments are now part of this cultural destination that houses a world-standard contemporary art museum, some of the city’s chicest restaurants and boutiques. Apart from snapping and admiring the beauty, architecture and design of the complex, visitors coming during Hong Kong Arts Month get to enjoy free site-specific performances, urban dance battles, community and contemporary dance, workshops and screenings in the HKArtsFestival@TaiKwun programme over two weekends, on March 2 and10.
The art experience in Hong Kong is not limited to standalone events and places. Out in the open, art has penetrated the corners of various neighborhoods, inviting the curious to explore these living “street art museums.” Visitors may take a stroll at Central, Sheung Wan and the latest “ARTLANE” in the hipster Sai Ying Pun area where murals by local and overseas artists can be found on walls of old buildings and staircases.
Hong Kong is a place where to take a “selfie” in front of many Instagram-worthy street art. It’s also where to hunt for shutter art painted by young local artists under an initiative aptly called “HK Urban Canvas,” depicting the unique personalities and stories behind local shops. Visitors shall also keep an eye for buzzing street scenes, intriguing contrasts and all the oddities that make Hong Kong an exciting place.
For those who seek more sensory stimulation, there are various performing arts events, the most notable of which is the Hong Kong Arts Festival. With a history of over four decades, the annual bonanza featuring opera, theatre, music, dance and more has been an artery of the city’s cultural life. Visitors will have the opportunities to enjoy 166 performances and over 300 exciting array of outreach activities by over 1,700 artists from around the world during the 31-day-long program this year, from February 21 to March 23.
It’s March – and Hong Kong beckons! - Lean Arnoco