[ISEA2016] Curator Statement: Hong Kong Arts Development Council — Human Vibrations

Satellite Event: Exhibition: The 5th Large-Scale Public Media Arts Exhibition: Human Vibrations, Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council

International artists: Laurent Mignonneau &Christa Sommerer

Local artists: Isaac Chong Wai, Jaffa Lam Learn, Jason Lam Chi Fai & Sampson Wong Yu Hin, Cedric Maridet, Kingsley Ng Siu King

Curator: Ms. Caroline Ha Thuc

Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), the “5th Large-Scale Public Media Art Exhibition: Human Vibrations” curated by independent curator Ms. Caroline Ha Thuc was held from 18 May to 22 June 2016. The project has invited two world-renowned media artists, Laurent Mignonnneau (France) & Christa Sommerer (Austria), as well as four local artists, Isaac Chong Wai, Jaffa Lam Laam, Cédric Maridet, and Kingsley Ng Siu King, to showcase different kinds of interactive media artworks at various locations in Hong Kong, encouraging the public to experience the invisible frequencies and also questioning their impact on our daily lives. During the exhibition period, a series of educational programmes such as artist symposium, artist workshops and docent tours are organised to promote public understanding of media arts. [source: appadvice.com/app/human-vibrations]

Programme:

  1. Cédric Maridet — Archipelodio
  2. Isaac Chong Wai — One Sound of the Futures
  3. Laurent Mignonneau & Christa Sommerer — Fly High: Time Flies
  4. Kingsley Ng Siu King — 25 Minutes Older
  5. Jaffa Lam Laam — I’m listening, heartbeating, handworking

A 6th work, by Sampson Wong & Jason Lam, originally named ‘Our 60-second friendship begins now’ was cancelled by the curators, who declared, in a press release that “The original work (…) was selected and recommended by the independent Curator Ms Caroline Ha Thuc, endorsed by the Advisory Committee of the Exhibition chaired by Ms Ellen Pau. After the opening ceremony of the Exhibition held on 18 May 2016, the artists changed the title [now titled Countdown Machine] and statement of their work, and publicised these changes, without consulting the curator nor HKADC”. The curators stated that this “demonstrated disrespect”. hkadc.org.hk/en/whats-on/press-release/joint-statement

  • The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) is a statutory body in Hong Kong tasked with development of the arts in the territory. The ADC was created in 1995, under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, Chapter 472, replacing the former Council of Performing Arts. It advises the government on cultural policy for Hong Kong and allocates grants, undertakes advocacy, promotion and development, and plans programmes, in support of the arts. [source: Wikipedia]