HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAMMES
‘TIDAL STORIES’ -ARTS INSTALLATION
‘Tidal Stories’ designed by Design PY, awarded in the “Public Space Art Intervention Plan 01”. The art installation captures the changing scenery of Tai Kok Tsui’s coastline in the form of urban furniture, integrating local history with interactive elements. Through creative ways of using local materials, recycled materials are transformed into carriers of coastal stories, inspiring the community’s imagination of the past and the future.
The ‘Tidal Stories’ Community Tour is led by the design team, who will take participants along the old coastline of Tai Kok Tsui, visit different areas, learn the stories behind them, observe the changes in the community, and share the design concepts and project experience of the art installations with participants.
Click here for registration on the ‘Tidal Stories’ Community Tour’
‘NOBODY IS SOMEBODY’
Inspired by the spatial transformations of urban renewal, ‘Nobody is Somebody’ symbolises the vitality and resilience nurtured within city redevelopment. In process of urban renewal, the unique stories left by the rights of way/easements associated with buildings are difficult to trace. The staircase has now lost its functionality, leading to nowhere as a remnant structure and has become a remnant of the city’s past appearance.
A giant flower blooming across half a staircase invites passersby to rediscover the interplay of space and art in their daily routines.
This inflatable art installation dynamically fills architectural crevices, engaging in a dialogue with the built environment. The flower’s imagery embodies harmony and coexistence in urban development, encouraging public to reimagine the role of public art and spatial possibilities, and serving as a cultural catalyst for urban transformation.
‘POP-UP PLAYGROUND’
The use of temporary spaces provides an experimental platform for urban revitalization. Through dialogues with local residents, the collection of old objects, school and community workshops, and the exhibition of participatory art, the programme combines everyday attitudes toward ‘PLAY’ with imagination, exploring the infinite possibilities between public art and public playground. It serves to capture and preserve the stories of the Tai Kok Tsui community while nurturing creativity within the community. The programme aspires to connect the community through a co-creation and co-learning approach, give the community a new lease of life and creatively reimagine the use of urban public spaces.
‘Pop-up Playground’ features various creations, including mobile cart transformed from repurposed old furniture recycled in Tai Kok Tsui; a skipping rope crafted from old clothes collected from the community; a cosy tent made from recycled snack bags; drawers filled with beautiful memories; and an interactive installation transformed from a discarded lifeboat. The programme excavates forgotten items from the community to create joy that nourishes our lives. Let’s come together to create a playground that belongs to everyone!
PAVILION
The HKAC launched the Open Call Competition in October 2023, it invited eligible architects, designers and artists to design a temporary pavilion, which will be an anchor programme in the overall ‘RE: Tai Kok Tsui’ public art and community art project. The competition seeked to foreground and support emerging ecologically conscious young designers.
The ‘RE: Tai Kok Tsui’ Pavilion is now launched, it serves as a multi-functional space like gathering and resting, exhibition and event.
PUBLIC SPACE ART IN INTERVENTION OPEN CALL 01 & 02
Public space locations in Tai Kok Tsui are selected to open call for creative proposals with its uniqueness. It aims to receive proposals that are suitable to the site context and Tai Kok Tsui community, in response to projects’ objective, vision, mission and value.
‘IVY SAYS:’ – INTERGENERATIONAL MUSIC THEATRE PERFORMANCE
A community performing art project that connects people and the landscape based on the current appearance of the district and the changes in the coastline. Through artistic research, experiential workshops, and theatrical performances, it integrates the memories and imaginations of old and new residents of Tai Kok Tsui about this place. This creation uses performing arts to connect the elderly, children, and young artists as co-creators, creating a performative “impression map” of this place, listening to the mark of the past and dialoguing with the future.
A 90-minute journey that blends local street sounds, footsteps, metallic resonances, and human voices with the rhythmic pulse of urban music. An intergenerational lineup of community facilitators leads the way, unveiling surprises and evoking memories embedded in the community’s narrative.
The journey begins and concludes at Ivy Street Rest Garden, where a grand finale surrounds participants and audience members in a fusion of environmental storytelling and immersive engagement.
‘IVY SAYS: ’- FUN DAY
Let’s immerse ourselves in the dynamics of ‘Ivy Says’! On this special fun day, we invite participants of all ages to join us in a variety of workshops, including Theatre, Handpan, Street Dance, and Tap Dance. In a relaxed and joyful atmosphere, everyone interacts and shares with one another. Let’s find resonance in the rhythms of Tai Kok Tsui and create wonderful memories together!
A CONVERSATION ON CREATIVE PROCESS: ‘IVY SAYS:’
‘Ivy Says:’ has been running for over a year. In a series of local research, documentary filmmaking, community workshops, and community performances, the project dives into the rich histories and dynamic transformations of Tai Kok Tsui. Through conversations and collaborations with local residents, the project captures unique stories and memories held by the community.
How was the project conceived? What emerged from the process? How has dramaturgy served as the foundation for this creative endeavour?
In this conversation, we will launch our publication ‘Call and Response: Doing Dramaturgy in Community Performance “Ivy Says:”‘, screen our documentary on Tai Kok Tsui residents, and share snippets from our performance. Using our creation process as a starting point, we invite the audience to imagine with us the future potential of community engagement through performing arts.
Click here for more information on ‘Ivy Says:’
‘PHANTASMS FOR FUTURE ECOLOGIES’
‘Phantasms for Future Ecologies’ presents digital projection artworks by leading Australian artist Mikala Dwyer in the neighbourhood of Tai Kok Tsui in Hong Kong. This is accompanied by a community art workshop led by artist and curator Tammy Wong Hulbert focussed on the Citizen-Artist bringing together the community through collaborative art making responding to caring for threated local biospecies. The installation and workshop are part of a broader urban renewal project led by Hong Kong Arts Centre ‘RE: Tai Kok Tsui’, which considers how public art can connect community, place, heritage and inspire ideas about sustainable living. The project involves a team of researchers, artists and curators from the School of Art at RMIT University, Australia: Associate Professor Kristen Sharp, Professor Mikala Dwyer and Dr Tammy Wong Hulbert. RMIT University is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program.
‘Phantasms for Future Ecologies’ develops poetic and innovative ways for creative artworks to create public space and to act as conduits for community connection and the re-imagining of urban ecological futures. The vivid, holographic-like image of the barn swallow by artist Mikala Dwyer is projected onto the environments of Tai Kok Tsui, drawing attention to the role animals play in urban spaces. It opens up a poignant space to reconsider ecological care, the connections between the human and more- than- human, and our coexistence in contemporary cities.
Currently on projection at the ‘RE: Tai Kok Tsui’ Pavilion, Open Piazza, Olympian City 2!
‘URBAN BIRDWATCHING X CITY SKETCHING WORKSHOP’
Hong Kong is a fast-paced city home to over 580 bird species. Over the decades, generations of neighbours and ‘neighBIRDS’ have collectively created a vibrant community in Tai Kok Tsui that blends a unique social landscape with urban biodiversity.
Led by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and collaborating with artist David Chui, this workshop will carry out an urban birdwatching experience with city sketching.
Date : 23rd March, 13th April, 18th May, 22nd June, 20th July 2025 (Sun)
Time : 2pm – 4pm
Gathering Point : RE: Tai Kok Tsui Pavilion
Address: Open Piazza, Olympian City 2, Tai Kok Tsui
Register Now: https://www.art-mate.net/doc/82183?name=%E5%9F%8E%E9%B3%A5%E9%81%8A%E8%B9%A4%E5%AF%AB%E7%94%9F%E5%B7%A5%E4%BD%9C%E5%9D%8A
SPARROW CENSUS IN TAI KOK TSUI WORKSHOP
In the lively neighbourhood of Tai Kok Tsui, currently undergoing urban renewal, old community stories blend with new narratives. Here, ‘neighBIRDS have flourished alongside the many generations of residents who have witnessed the remarkable transformations in the community. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the most well known urban bird among Hong Kong residents. Even though they may be small, these resilient little birds show incredible adaptability, and their population offers valuable indicators of the health of our urban ecological environment.
We invite you to embark on an exploration of the streets and alleys of Tai Kok Tsui, where you can count the sparrows and make a meaningful contribution to citizen science!
Date :17th May, 14th June, 12th July, 16th August, 6th September 2025 (Sat)
Gathering Point : RE: Tai Kok Tsui Pavilion
Address: Open Piazza, Olympian City 2, Tai Kok Tsui
Register Now:
‘TIT SHU COMMUNITY LANE’ – ART INSTALLATION
‘Tit Shu Community Lane’ has transformed a section of Tit Shu Street in Tai Kok Tsui into a vibrant “Community Living Room” through the creative use of public furniture, sound installations, and pathway design. This design not only reconnects the sitting-out area and the previously separated streets but also fosters greater interaction among residents.
The Artist added small communal tables and musical instruments to the existing balustrades, transforming them into a space where residents can relax, chat, or play music. The mini-tables are thoughtfully attached to the balustrades, enabling access from both sides of the street. This design effectively breaks down barriers between the street and the sitting-out area, fostering interaction between both spaces. Additionally, we integrated stories from the residents about this community into the flooring design, which invites visitors to explore the area’s charm and uncover its stories.
‘HEAVY METAL REMEDIATION LAB’ MYCELIUM CRAFT AND PLANTING WORKSHOP
Curious about how art, design, biotechnology, and planting can enhance urban environments?
The ‘Heavy Metal Remediation Lab – Mycelium Craft and Planting Workshop’ focuses on remediating heavy metals in urban soil. Participants will engage in a series of workshops to learn how to create mycelium-based plant pots and cultivate hyperaccumulator plants capable of absorbing heavy metals.
‘HEAVY METAL REMEDIATION LAB’: COMMUNITY CO-LEARNING AND BIO-CRAFT INNOVATIONS
This exhibition integrates design, community participation, and biotechnology to explore heavy metal pollution in urban ecosystems and propose innovative environmental remediation solutions. It consists of two main sections: the first showcases the ‘Heavy Metal Remediation Lab’ program, documenting the journey of over 30 participants in community planting and material innovation; the second features the installation artwork The Sweeeet Side by artist Liv TSIM, provoking reflections on the future relationship between humans and heavy metals.
From Remediation to Future Visions
Spanning from community-driven ecological restoration to bio-material innovation and the future of heavy metal cycles, this exhibition interweaves science, community engagement, design, and craftsmanship to reimagine how humans coexist with the environment. More than just an experimental approach to pollution remediation, it invites us to rethink resource regeneration and envision the materials of the future
’GOOD GLAZE, TAI KOK TSUI’ EDUCATION AND DEMONSTRATION WORKSHOP
The workshop will use discarded materials from various industries in Tai Kok Tsui, such as coffee grounds, hardware scraps, and ashes from burning joss paper, for glaze experiments and firing processes. Participants will mix and apply glazes to pottery on-site.
The ceramics will showcase the unique colors and textures of Tai Kok Tsui, sharing local stories through craftsmanship. This initiative aims to educate the community on using local waste materials for glazes. Ceramic artworks, including tableware, home decor items, and wall tiles, created with these glazes, will be displayed to demonstrate the versatility and adaptability of glaze applications.
’GOOD GLAZE, TAI KOK TSUI’ EXHIBITION
Tai Kok Tsui is a community with a unique character, with blurred sense of boundaries and a quiet yet prosperous environment. It was once an important industrial area in Hong Kong, and the hardware industry derived from it was particularly prosperous. With land reclamation and reconstruction, industry has declined, the coastline has been constantly shifting, new buildings have sprung up, and the original community network has become increasingly broken, but the hardware industry has never stopped. The reconstruction brought new coffee shops, which coexist with the “old neighborhood” hardware stores and Hung Shing Temple, creating a mixture of old and new cultures, and slowly nurturing another face of Tai Kok Tsui that bears witness to the new era.
The ‘Good Glazes ,Tai Kok Tsui’ exhibition attempts to reconnect and reshape the community through ceramics. It collects waste materials generated by new and old industries in the area, develops glazes, and presents the unique color and texture of Tai Kok Tsui through pottery, using craftsmanship to tell local stories.
‘COMMUNITY MUSEUM SERIES – MOVE ON TO TKT’
‘What if the city had emotions and memories, just like people?’
The community museum series ‘Move on to TKT’ embraces the past through stories, using transformed objects as symbols of life stages, accompanying their owners into new chapters. The completed works will be displayed from 26 October to 31 December at ONE BEDFORD PLACE, Tai Kok Tsui, with free admission. After the exhibition, the pieces will move to the ‘RE: Tai Kok Tsui:’ co-creation space and Olympian City 2 for continued public viewing.
Extended Exhibition
Exhibition Dates:4/1/2025 – 23/2/2025
Opening Hours:10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Venue:1/F (near Sushiro) , Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui
Click here for more information on ‘Move on to TKT’
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH IN THE COMMUNITY
Since the Project commenced in April 2023, the HKAC has been focusing on its research, preliminary study and groundwork, connecting various stakeholders and understanding the community to revitalise Tai Kok Tsui through different collaborations.
COMMUNITY CO-CREATION LABORATORY
Creative teams assembled by artists and community members to collaborate with local organisations and shops in Tai Kok Tsui to design and implement innovative programmes, turning imagination into tangible reality. The lab fosters an environment encouraging members to delve into the interplay between art and public spaces through observations, discussions, professional skill development, collaborative experiments, and localised trials. These endeavours are intended to establish a robust foundation of valuable insights and practical knowledge for forthcoming community art experiences.
Launched in late 2023, including 4 different series of workshops as follow:
‘Community Editorial and Writing Workshop’ one of the workshops in the Lab Series features editing, reporting, and writing for local publications, fostering a deeper connection with the community. Co-creating by the Lab Members, the first volume of a publication of ‘Ten Cents Paper Zine’ is launched in February 2024, sharing the captivating and inspiring stories of Tai Kok Tsui and its people.
Click here to find out how to redeem the ‘Ten Cents Paper Zine’.
‘Community Bookshelves’ is the programme that local stakeholders, Lab Members, service users and artists co-create and tripartite collaborate in and for the Tai Kok Tsui community. There are 5 local organisations and shops that host one of our community bookshelves, a wide variety of reading interests as suggested by the programme participants. It inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. The community bookshelves have already stationed at the five shops and organisations. Let’s explore and experience the healing power of words by visiting different corners of in Tai Kok Tsui.
‘Night Street Photography Workshops’ and ‘Take a Walk in Dusk’ Tour encourage people to discover the beauty of Tai Kok Tsui. Its bustling energy, dynamic atmosphere, and vibes can differ greatly depending on the time of day.
‘Take a Walk in Dusk Tour’ encourages participants to slow down their pace in the rapidly developing urban space, observe, explore, and understand the urban fabric of the Tai Kok Tsui community. In collaboration with the artist, an exclusive tour will be co-created to capture the essence of Tai Kok Tsui. Let’s take a breath and refresh ourselves in this cityscape.
‘The Clay Workshop in Tai Kok Tsui Community’ aims to facilitate community art co-creation through the participation of various local groups in crafting clay symbols representative of Tai Kok Tsui, and serving as an opportunity for connection and dialogue among community members.
‘COMMUNITY MUSEUM SERIES – HOK HOK ZAAP KOK’
The first session is formed by a series of workshops and the programme named ‘Hok Hok Zaap Kok’, which is led by artists who co-create with residents and local organisations. The workshops intend to build community unity through co-learning. Workshops begin from March to May 2024 and an exhibition showcase in June to August 2024.
Click here for more information on ‘Hok Hok Zaap Kok’ series workshops.
‘DRAGON AND PHOENIX THEATRE & COMMON GROUND’ – COMMUNAL GATHERING
In the 60s and 70s, there were many theatres in Tai Kok Tsui; the common ground outside the theatre was the main recreation and entertainment area for residents at that time.
‘Dragon and Phoenix Theatre & Common Ground’ takes the Tai Kok Tsui Theatre as its theme, providing the community with a cross-generational tea gathering and game experience on the Mid-Autumn Festival day, recalling the atmosphere of the common ground outside the theatre at that time. In view of the fact that Tai Kok Tsui is an old district with an older population, various stakeholders in the district (including schools, residential care homes, elderly centres, community centres, small shops, etc.) are invited to participate. This event has previously provided training workshops for secondary school students in the district, and later conducting cross-generational communication and exchanges as an inclusive ambassador at the event. Through tea gatherings and game experiences, guests will be able to try out soft meal, and learn about neighbourhood memories, local history, culture, and urban changes through the game experience area.
Allowing guests to re-experience the cultural history of Tai Kok Tsui, allowing the neighbourhood relationships of Tai Kok Tsui to continue, and reconnecting the old and young residents of Tai Kok Tsui.
‘Iron Floral Scrolls’-Tai Kok Tsui Community Arts and Crafts Education Programme
Dr. Ho Siu Kee is an artist who focuses on contemporary sculpture and the practice of traditional craftsmanship. He is also a resident of the Tai Kok Tsui neighbourhood.Such dual identity gives Dr. Ho a unique perspective and approach to his research and creative practices during his residency in Tai Kok Tsui.
‘Iron Floral Scrolls’ has been gradually declining due to the influence of modern manufacturing methods and changes in consumer habits. This type of labour-intensive craftsmanship thrived from 1970s to 1990s and is a unique traditional craft in Hong Kong. In the past, it could be seen everywhere in the community, such as in iron gates, fences, and window decorations, often exuding a vibrant aesthetic and cultural atmosphere.
By leading students into the metal shops in Tai Kok Tsui to learn the craft of ‘Iron Floral Scrolls, the project aims to connect the past and the present. Through applying the skills being learned from the older generation of craftsmen to community life, , it gives the craft a “second life” to connect people and their daily living in Tai Kok Tsui. Emphasising on-site collaborative creation among artists, master craftsmen, and students, the project provides students with an valuable opportunity to understand Tai Kok Tsui’s past, to explore the possibilities of applying ‘Iron Floral Scrolls’ in contemporary creative practices, and thus the attempt to change the future of this community.
