Top art exhibitions and displays to check out in Hong Kong

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:

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Step inside the whimsical Unfurl garden filled with light, colour, and sound at Tai Kwun's Parade Ground from May 23 to 31. Unlike any other, this visual spectacle combines nature, art, and technology to create a dreamscape of towering interactive installations, with 19 'plants' made from fabric and air that reach up to five meters high. As you explore the garden, these gentle giants will sense your presence and reach out to connect, creating a joyful experience that celebrates the wonder and intelligence of nature's design. 

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at Harbour City with the Seagulls by the Harbour public art installation by renowned Japanese artist Takahito Kimura. The installation features 60 life-sized seagulls that perch along the coast and spin in unison with the sea breeze, creating a unique backdrop for photography enthusiasts. This marks the first time that Kimura's iconic artworks from the Kazamidori (weathercock) series will be showcased outside of Japan. The installation pays tribute to the power of nature and showcases the artist's ability to connect intangible elements with the physical world.

Exploring the meanings behind self-portraiture in the age of social media and selfies, the Face ID exhibition at JPS Gallery features eight contemporary artists – including Arashi M, Erina Matsui, Fujikawa Saki, Kazy Chan, Lu Gao, Marius Seidlitz, Shintaro Inoue, and Teddy Leung – who push the boundaries of portraiture beyond the limitations of facial recognition technology by using a range of techniques, from traditional to avant-garde, to capture the essence of their subjects. Running from May 4 to June 3, the exhibition presents a dynamic and vibrant display of human expression that challenges viewers to think beyond the surface level of human identity.

Featuring 14 new works and four sculptures, Space Rich follows in the same vein as Chang's previous show, Bling Dynasty, by incorporating recognisable figures and icons from pop culture and luxury brands in its compositions. Juxtaposing 'earthly' icons against the barren landscape of Mars, the exhibition offers a visual contemplation of deep space habitation and the possibility of escaping reality – a world dominated by consumerist urges and social media feeds – to outer space or virtual reality. At once provocative and playfully enticing, Chang's works invite viewers on a foray into Chang’s imaginative visions of Mars and the footprints of its futuristic inhabitants.

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.

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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. 

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.