Press Release
HKBU artists use art tech to feature local shop stories and reflect on community conservation
Friday, 8 November 2024
Artists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) are partnering with Nan Fung Group’s community initiative, the “In Time Of” programme, to present a multimedia art exhibition from today until 12 November. Utilising art technologies such as 3D scanning, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality (AR), the exhibition presents the stories of local shops that repair old appliances, alter clothing and mend shoes. It invites visitors to reflect on the value and cultural significance of these local shops while exploring issues related to community conservation.
The exhibition titled “Foreseen Property 2099: Journey of Future Archaeology” is being held at a shopping mall in Kai Tak and is curated by Ms Pat Wong Wing-shan (aka Flying Pig) and Mr Kachi Chan, Assistant Professors of the Academy of Visual Arts at HKBU. Since the beginning of the year, they have visited six local shops in Tsuen Wan and San Po Kong. These include “Leung Kee Pai Dong”, which has specialised in shoe repairs and selling groceries for over 40 years; “Old Neighbourhood Jade and Jewellery”, a shop run by an experienced jade-carving master; and “Adaptive Clothing”, a social enterprise that employs local women and retirees to produce care apparel.
In addition to documenting the spaces and stories of these shops using text, illustrations and videos, they also taught the shop owners how to use 3D scanning devices. This allowed them to stereo-scan the shops meticulously and according to their daily routines. The team then utilised AI technology to reconstruct the scanned data accurately into virtual 3D point cloud models, providing a detailed record of both the exterior and interior spaces of the shops. An online data archive of the old shops was created and made accessible to the public, with the aim of preserving the spaces and memories of the local shops in a digital format.
At the exhibition site, HKBU artists invite visitors to enter a time tunnel and immerse themselves in an “archaeological site” set in the year 2099, where they can excavate various “archaeological fossils” from the sand. These “fossils” represent items that the shop owners consider to be full of memories and the most memorable, yet they may disappear or be forgotten 75 years into the future. Visitors can use AR devices to explore the stories behind each of these “artifacts”.
Ms Pat Wong said, “Through public participation, storytelling, and excavating the stories of these shops, I hope to inspire the public to reflect on the urgency of community conservation amidst rapid urban development, and to explore possibilities for the sustainable development of both the city and its culture.”
Ms Pat Wong has been exploring local old shops since 2016 and has captured their stories through sketching. She used to design sales brochures for major property developers, which inspired her to reflect on the value and definition of collective memories. As a result, she deliberately included community art participation in this exhibition.
The whole project is supported by Nan Fung Group’s community initiative, the “In Time Of” programme.
Exhibition Details
Date: From now till 12 November (12:00nn to 8:00pm)
Venue: G015, AIRSIDE, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon
Programme: A series of free public activities including workshops and group guided tours will be held during the exhibition
Website: https://www.fore-seen-2099.com/
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