Transformative Hong Kong 港創未來 Officially Opens in Venice Italy Collateral Event of 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia

Transformative Hong Kong 港創未來 Officially Opens in Venice Italy 
Collateral Event of 18th International Architecture Exhibition –La Biennale di Venezia

Exploring the Critical Territorial, Architectural & Urban Space
Facing Issues Hong Kong’s Future

The Collateral event of 18th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia - Hong Kong Exhibition with the theme “Transformative Hong Kong” (港創未來) held its official opening on 19th May 2023 in Venice, Italy. The opening ceremony was attended by Member of Legislative Council and government officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as professionals, media and architects from across the world. 

Jointly organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and Hong Kong Arts Development Council, with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) as the Partner and Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition (“Hong Kong Exhibition”) will be on view from 20th May to 26th November 2023 in Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122 in Venice, Italy. 

The Hong Kong Exhibition’s opening took place in the courtyard where a large canopy-shaped bamboo installation titled "Moving Bamboo" is the centrestage. The Guests of Honour Hon. Kenneth Fok, JP, Member of Legislative Council of HKSAR, Deputy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the National People’s Congress of China cum Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, as well as Mr Henry Tsoi, Deputy Representative of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Ms. Natalie Mossin, Region I Vice-president of International Union of Architects, Ar. Benny Chan, President of the HKIA, Ar. Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Chairperson of the HKIABF, Ar. Allen Poon, Vice-Chairperson of the HKIABF, Ar. Anthony Cheung, co-chairman of the organising committee for the Hong Kong Exhibition and the curatorial team officiated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony altogether. 

The Hong Kong exhibition in Venice is curated by Ar. Sarah Lee, Prof. Hendrik Tieben and Ar. Yutaka Yano. In response to “The Laboratory of the Future”, the overall title defined by Chief Curator of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Lesley Lokko, the Hong Kong curatorial team has developed the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition which focuses on Hong Kong’s future on how the city is being transformed by such mega-projects as The Northern Metropolis and the East Lantau Metropolis, and by such innovations as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC).

The Hong Kong exhibition is arranged according to three designated scales - “Territorial Transformations”, “Architectural Transformations” and “Public Space Transformations”, combining a total of 11 sets of exhibits to showcase initiatives with interactive mixed media representations and visual essays, snapshots of this transformative moment in our city with focused themes on Hong Kong’s sustainability, climate change, technology and energy/resource management, and how the architectural collaborations and innovations have been using the city as the “laboratory” to meet the challenges faced by the future generation of Hong Kong.

The Venice exhibition will return to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024. 

Photo Caption

Guests of Honour Hon. Kenneth Fok, JP, Member of Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress of China cum Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Henry Tsoi, Deputy Representative of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, Ms. Winsome Chow, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Ms. Natalie Mossin, Region I Vice-president of International Union of Architects, Ar. Benny Chan, President of the HKIA, Ar. Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ , Chairperson of the HKIABF, Ar. Allen Poon, ViceChair person of the HKIABF and Ar. Anthony Cheung, co-chairman of the organising committee for the Hong Kong Exhibition officially opened the “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia is open to the public viewing from 20th May to 26th November 2023 in Venice, Italy and will return to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024. 

From left to right) Prof. Hendrik Tieben, Ar. Anthony Cheung, Ar. Benny Chan, Ar. Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Mr Henry Tsoi, Hon. Kenneth Fok, JP, Ms. Winsome Chow, Ms. Natalie Mossin, Ar. Allen Poon, Ar. Sarah Lee and Ar.Yutaka Yano

The curatorial team (From left to right) formed by Ar. Sarah Lee, Prof. Hendrik Tieben and Ar. Yutaka Yano of the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition introduced the theme and concepts of the exhibition to the attending guests at the Hong Kong Exhibition’s Opening Ceremony. 




Guided by the curators and participating exhibitors present, the officiating guests Hon Kenneth Fok, JP and Mr Henry Tsoi toured the “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition and were amazed by the design concepts behind the visionary works.



The “Transformative Hong Kong” exhibition in Italy is set in three different zones with a total of 11 sets of exhibits to showcase initiatives with interactive mixed media representations and visual essays, snapshots of this transformative moment of Hong Kong, exploring the critical issues in territorial, architectural and urban spaces faced by Hong Kong in the future.

Transformative Hong Kong 港創未來
Hong Kong Exhibition at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia