Hong Kong art exhibitions to catch this week

Like many of the city's big annual events, the Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, leaving many tattoo enthusiasts disappointed and numerous tattooed butts hanging. Luckily, local tattoo studio Freedom Tattoo has partnered up with K11 Art Mall to present a "spin-off" rendition of the annual event – the Hong Kong Tattoo Show 2021. Running from September 24 to 26, the show will feature a group of talented tattooists with diverse art styles, who will be offering inking services on-site. Apart from getting inked, the show will also give tattoo artists and enthusiasts an opportunity to connect, converse and exchange ideas. To top things off, a tattoo competition will be held on the last day of the show (Sunday, September 26) where tattooists will be able to demonstrate their skill and creativity, while visitors gain more knowledge about different tattoo art and styles. Tickets for the show are already on sale, so hurry and grab yours now!

Trust & Confusion is an eight-month-long exhibition featuring over 20 newly commissioned works from artists around the world consisting of static artworks, audio works, and live performances such as dancing and singing – by a chorus of tone-deaf singers. The art show is split into a ‘day’ and ‘night’ theme. Inside the ‘day room’, artworks would change and evolve over the exhibition period, while the ‘night room’ will present a solo or duo showcase by different artists. So, whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for another round, you’ll always be in for a surprise.

Pomodoro is a joint exhibition that tells the story of artistic collaboration in the time of the pandemic. Presenting works by London-based photographer Chris Rhodes and artist goldsmith Joy BC, the exhibition will see solo pieces by both artists sitting side by side, as well as collaborative works where Chris would recruit different mundane objects in his reach and juxtaposing them alongside Joy's creations, while Joy would reflect further on her own works and the collaboration with Chris's photographs. The combination of Joy’s jewels and Chris’s photography calls into question the art of still life and perfectly blends together the precious and the mundane in a harmonious and playful manner.

Taking place from September 30 to October 10 at the former flagship location of Topshop in Hong Kong, the Digital Art Fair Asia (DAFA) will be Asia’s first physical art fair that focuses on contemporary art with cutting-edge technology, new media art, NFT Crypto Art, and immersive art experiences. The 11-day long exhibition will feature art pieces  – both in physical and virtual format –  by over 40 international and local artists. Photograph: Courtesy DAFA/Refik Anadol There are five zones at the art fair, including the Immersive zone, which will feature artworks by Turkish-American new media artist Refik Anadol and Krista Kim, Toronto-based artist and creator of the first ‘NFT virtual house’; along with the Prestige zone, where there will be a showcase of world-class new media and NFT contemporary art collections. Over at the Pioneer zone, a space co-curated by photographer and digital artist, Derry Ainsworth, and urban art specialist Hannah Smith, visitors can expect to see works by the likes of Sean Foley, SurrealHK (Tommy Fung), Szabotage, and more. At the New Media zone, artworks by NFT sound artist and ‘Godfather’ of Chinese hip hop MC Yan; Hong Kong's leading digital artist Henry Chu; and Victor Wong, the creator of the world’s first artificial intelligence ink artist A.I. Gemini, will be on show. Last but not least, the Virtual Reality Art Experience zone will feature the dslcollection VR art museum – the first virtual art museum established in 2005 by Paris-based c

Serendipity in the Street is a meaningful group exhibition that looks into the everyday life of Hongkongers in the Central and Sheung Wan neighbourhood. Using the everyday life observation practice of 'Modernologio', which originated in Japan, the exhibition reflects the complex connections and relationship between people, space, and activity through the works of seven local artists including Annisa Cheung, Choi Sai Ho, South Ho, Charles Kwong, Ocean Leung, Frank Tang Kai Yiu, and Nerve.

K11 Art Mall is holding its first-ever Design Fest from September 17 to October 31, bringing together an assortment of activities for art lovers to enjoy.  Start off your art quest at the chi K11 art space and explore the Normally Abnormal joint exhibition. Open every day from noon to 10pm, the exhibition features a series of illustrations, murals, interactive displays, and installations that highlight the balance between what is considered 'strange' and 'normal'. The exhibition is split into two parts – Normally Abnormal (Sept 17 to Oct 5); Abnormally Normal (Oct 9 to 31) – where some of the artworks will evolve and change by the second half.  There will also be an Illustration Marketplace (held every Friday to Sunday from Sept 24 to Oct 10) featuring artworks and products from 30 different illustrators every week, busking nights on Fridays, creative workshops, and more. Find out more info here.

A solo exhibition by London-based artist Michael John Hunter, The More Things Change features a series of works that challenge our perception of the real and the imaginary. Combining the artist's skills in photography with his passion for sculpture making, the exhibition invites the audience to contemplate how the truth is perceived through the use of fake macro photography, where enlarged sculptures of vintage toys are placed in 'real-life' locations to enhance and demonstrate the scale of each sculpture.

Critically acclaimed Puerto Rican-American artist Enoc Perez is presenting his first solo exhibition at Ben Brown Fine Arts's Hong Kong gallery from September 7 to October 13. Exploring the significance of architectural space around the world – from their aesthetic and conceptual importance to the roles they play in relation to popular culture – Perez's new body of works features oil paintings of classic architectural works, modern interiors, as well as a vibrant set of palm tree paintings inspired by the landscape of his native country.

West Kowloon Cultural District's 2021–2022 performing arts season offers an exciting programme of indoor and outdoor live events at the Xiqu Centre, Freespace, and harbour-side Art Park. From now until March 2022, audiences can explore local and international performances of dance, music, xiqu, theatre and more.   Season highlights include the Asian premiere of choreographer William Forsythe's Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No.2., presented by Rolex, in July. The interactive installation transforms Freespace into an undulating labyrinth where visitors create their own type of dance as they weave their way through. In October and November, the Xiqu Centre's annual Black Box Chinese Opera Festival presents bold contemporary performances by local and regional troupes.  Other must-see events include Rimini Protokoll's 100% Hong Kong, a production that turns the stage into an ever-changing living portrait of Hong Kong; Ryuichi Sakamoto's dis·play, a meditative experience of electronic music and visual compositions featuring Shiro Takatani; and the original Cantonese opera comedy The Emperor.  Book tickets through the West Kowloon website or West Kowloon ticket offices before June 21 to enjoy a 20 percent early bird discount on *select programmes. For more information, visit wk.org.hk/3vEZdrU.  *Programmes with early bird discount: Theatre▪️ Rimini Protokoll: 100% Hong Kong▪️ Edward Lam Dance Theatre: Hello, Baoyu Dance▪️ Rolex Presents: William Forsythe's Nowhere and Ever

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has joined hands with international pop art duo FriendsWithYou – co-founded by Samuel Borkson (Florida, USA) and Arturo Sandoval III (Cuba) – to bring their iconic, adorable characters to the West Kowloon Art Park! From September 23 to October 14, 12 giant inflatable art installations and mysterious mascots will take over the lawns of Art Park, including the art group's most recognisable Little Cloud character, which will come in at a not-so-little 15 metres wide and 10 metres high, as well as the debut of new characters like Rainbow Worm and Jelly. Additionally, FriendsWithYou has also given the Hong Kong Space Museum a cute makeover by slapping on their signature smiley face on the Museum’s dome-shaped facade, instantly turning it into a selfie hotspot for the 'gram. No reservations are needed in order to check out the FriendsWithYou installations at Art Park, however, be sure to check the 'traffic light' indicator on the FriendsWithYou website for the most up-to-date situation at the venue to avoid the crowd (last admission at 9pm).