Top art exhibitions and displays to check out in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's favourite rubber duck is back after 10 long years, and this time, it has a new buddy! A collaborative project by creative brand AllRightsReserved and Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, Double Ducks by Florentijn Hofman sees a duo of 18-metres-tall inflatable rubber ducks floating on Hong Kong waters from June 10 onwards for roughly two weeks (subject to weather conditions). The pair – symbolic of the symmetrical Chinese characters '囍' (happiness) and '朋' (friends) – will be stationed near Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) to greet the public and bring smiles to everyone's faces.

To add some quacking good fun to our everyday life, a special series of 'Double Ducks with Hong Kong Signature Icons' is launched around town, featuring 24 images of the adorable pair at unique local landmarks including the Clock Tower and Space Museum of Tsim Sha Tsui, Lan Kwai Fong, and Choi Hung Estate. The Double Ducks have also taken over 18 different MTR stations such as Central, Causeway Bay, Tsi Sha Tsui, Choi Hung, and Admiralty, where Exit E has been transformed into a limited-time 'Double Ducks Exit' with rows of cute ducky footprints, wrappings, motifs, and a giant duck face facade on the exterior round-shaped ceiling window facing the harbourfront.

And just to top things off, you can catch the Double Ducks tram making its way around Hong Kong Island, or get your hands on exclusive Double Ducks collectibles – think wooden sculptures, plush toy, mahjong set, T-shirts, and more – at the DDT Store starting June 5 (11am).

Jun Makita's Oh, Summer Days solo exhibition at Gallery Ascend is a vibrant fusion of energy and pop. Makita's unique painting style weaves together elements of nature, whimsical characters, and nostalgic references influenced by hip-hop, graffiti culture, and punk music. Get ready to immerse yourself in Makita's imaginative world, where his works are bursting with life and vivid colours, inviting viewers to embrace their imagination and revel in the sheer joy and excitement it evokes.

Running from May 24 to September 3, the Hope exhibition marks the first solo show in Hong Kong by renowned Australian artist Patricia Piccinini. Featuring over 50 artworks, including hyper-realistic sculptures, paintings, and moving images, the exhibition explores the unexpected consequences of tampering with nature, raising crucial questions about the impact of science on humanity. Among the largest works in the show is Celestial Fields, an immersive installation made up of 4,500 individual flower stems, as well as a 20-metre-high installation of multi-coloured wigs spun together and suspended down from the ceiling. Over the course of the exhibition, a wide range of activities are also available for the public, including film screenings, workshops, tours, Family Day events, and more. 

Watch our preview of the large-scale exhibition below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk)

Japanese artist Jun Oson pays tribute to the cultural significance of classic Hong Kong movies from the 90s and the city's vibrant nightlife with the Motley exhibition. The exhibition features 15 paintings inspired by iconic scenes from movies such as In the Mood for Love, A Better Tomorrow, and Rigor Mortis, as well as neon night scenes of the city. Oson's signature modern pop art and manga style, combined with bright colors and humorous techniques, create a series of unique works that showcase his vision of the city as a place full of power and energy. Don't miss your chance to see Oson's works at Gallery by the Harbour from now to June 18.

Running from now to July 4 at premium art space Artelli, Takeru Amano Solo Exhibition: Attack of Clone Venus marks the legendary Japanese artist's first showcase in Hong Kong, featuring 450 NFT digital and physical collectibles, as well as sculptures and giant art installations inspired by over 1,000 items from Amano's daily life. The collection offers simplicity, minimalistic design, vibrant colours, and saturated hues. Those who purchase the limited art book are entitled to receive a corresponding NFT digital collectible. In addition to the physical exhibition, Artelli has also introduced two interactive AR filters to enhance the audience's viewing experience.

Visitors can also check out the concurrent exhibition, Art for Lohas, which features the works of nine international artists showcasing eco-friendly artworks that promote environmental sustainability. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and aims to draw attention to the interconnectedness between humans and nature, highlighting the need for introspection on the environment, resources, and climate change.

M+ and HKADC present 'Angela Su proudly presents: Lauren O—The Greatest Levitator in the Polyhedric Cosmos of Time', a site-responsive exhibition adapted from the artist's successful presentation at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Set in the wild imaginative world of Su, the exhibition – presented in two parts – explores the life of Lauren O, a legendary levitator who played an instrumental role in the 1960s anti-war movement in the United States, and illustrates her obsession with transformation and levitation. The exhibition will be on display from June 9 to October 8 in the Cissy Pui-Lai Pao and Shinichiro Watari Galleries at M+.

The Stroll Gallery presents The Green Room, a solo exhibition of works by young Korean artist Lee Na. The exhibition features 11 paintings that draw on Na's childhood memories and imagination, capturing the beauty of nature and life with remarkable detail. Na's use of colours brings to life the emotions, relationships, and environment depicted in her works, offering viewers a chance to transport to her world. 

From now to July 5, Pop Sunday and Kkplus present the Gasam Universe Mini Exhibition, showcasing the virtual fantasy world of Gasam Universe imagined by designer Zha Zha. The exhibition is designed with a Y2K and neon psychedelic style, with fluorescent green and psychedelic neon colours dominating the space. Visitors can explore the fluffy space with characters Zhazhazi and Moxi, snap selfies on inflatable sofas, take purikura photos at the Y2K Girls Zone purikura photo booth, and take home a series of adorable merch, including plush dolls, a limited edition bead crossbody strap, tote bags, and more. 

If you've been around the harbourfront area at Tsim Sha Tsui lately, you might have noticed the huge swimming pool installation located outside the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMOA). Created by Hong Kong artist Chan Wai-lap, the installation – titled, Some of Us are Looking at the Stars – is part of HKMOA's Harbour Wonder exhibition, which also features a set of six art installations by local artist Tsoi Wai-kuen. Standing four-metre-tall and 11-metre-long, Chan's installation invites audiences to step into a fantasy world that draws on his personal memories and experiences of swimming pools, while exploring themes of public and private spaces. The installation plays with light, sound, and even the weather to create an ever-changing scene for those who step inside. 

Meanwhile, Tsoi's set of six art installations – titled, A symphony of delights – takes inspiration from iconic buildings and their exterior designs on both sides of Victoria Harbour, including the Cultural Centre, HKCEC, and IFC. Sitting at Art Square in the forecourt of HKMoA, the installations come in both dynamic and static form, acting as playful 'landmarks' for people to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. 

American artist Matthew Ronay is set to debut his first solo exhibition, The Tombs Are Upset, at Perrotin Hong Kong from May 5 to June 10. Ronay's six new sculptures, hand carved from polychromed basswood, explore the connection between death, technology, and the human experience. Presented as a narrative that unfolds over time, the artist's works blend organic forms with mechanical components, reflecting on the pervasive influence of technology in our lives and the futility of our existence.

Celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Jiajing Emperor's ascension to the throne and the diamond jubilee of the Hong Kong Museum of Art at the Make a Wish exhibition by local artist Angel Hui. The exhibition features over 500 underglaze blue porcelain items arranged on a 14-meter-long dining table, creating an epic visual feast where viewers can become 'honoured guests' and take a closer look at precious treasures from a different time and space.

As part of Oi! Spotlight, an annual programme that invites artists to present their works in old and new exhibition spaces, Hush‧Rush is a stunning art project by Hong Kong electronic musician and multimedia artist Choi Sai-ho. Running from now until July 30 at Oil Street Art Space, the exhibition creates a sense of opposition through the interaction of sounds and moving images and expands the audience's imagination to redefine perceptions of our city.

David Zwirner presents American artist Katherine Bernhardt's first solo show in Hong Kong, titled 'Dummy doll jealous eyes ditto pikachu beefy mimikyu rough play Galarian rapid dash libra horn HP 270 Vmax full art' (we know, it's a mouthful). Running from May 20 to August 5, the exhibition features paintings of characters from the popular Japanese media franchise and global game sensation, Pokémon, expanding Bernhardt's unique visual style that draws from pop culture and everyday life. The paintings take on a vibrant colour palette to create compositions similar to the Pokémon Trading Cards, showcasing the artist's ebullient style.

Korean digital design company d’strict heads to Hong Kong with Arte M, a special digital art show showcasing selected highlights from its renowned immersive media art exhibition Arte Museum.

Open from now to January 7, 2024, at K11 HACC, Arte M takes on the theme of 'Eternal Nature' and consists of four individual spaces displaying unique media artworks that reinterpret elements and nature. From the life cycle of flowers and crashing swells to boundlessly stretching seashore and the tropical rainforest, the works will take audiences on a surreal immersive experience through a combination of visual effects, sensuous sound, and elegant aromas.

Following its 15-month showcase at K11 HACC, the exhibition is expected to relocate to 11 Skies as a permanent exhibition with more works added to the collection in a much larger space. If you can't wait that long, get your tickets to the current show now.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk)

Created by American architectural group Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Joyful Trees (Arbores Laetae), is an art project at Oil! featuring 16 Chinese Junipers, three of which are placed on turning planters at a 10-degree tilt. As the trees rotate, the movement channels a rhythmic rustle and evokes discourse about human’s role in nature from Anthropocene’s perspective. Planting a movable landscape, the installation also reinterprets nature as ever-changing and never static, creating an unusual artistic perspective.

The three-dimensional installation can be viewed from eye level on the ground; by the adjacent pedestrian ramp; on the footbridge across the site; from the gallery window in the Oi! Glassie building; or even from the skyscrapers above.