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The opening ceremony for the exhibition "POST PiXEL. Animamix Biennale 2015-16" was held today (March 21) at the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre of the City University of Hong Kong. The exhibition encourages visitors to explore the intricate relationship between reality and the virtual world amid the rapid development of technology through new media art.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui, said that the Government is committed to enriching the cultural landscape of Hong Kong through the promotion and provision of cultural facilities and activities. The Animamix Biennale is a major regional event in line with the Government's vision to promote culture. This is the second time that Hong Kong has played host to the Biennale. With a strong focus on the aesthetic schemata of animation and comics, the exhibition will inspire viewers with new thoughts generated by technology and media art.
Other officiating guests included the President of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Way Kuo; the Chair Professor of Film and Media Art and Dean of the School of Creative Media of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Richard Allen; the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Chan Shing-wai; and the Head of the Art Promotion Office, Dr Lesley Lau.
Inaugurated in Shanghai in 2007, the Animamix Biennale has also been presented by Beijing, Macau and Taipei. After participating in the biennale for the first time in 2014, the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre and the City University of Hong Kong are teaming up again this year to present a new exhibition, showcasing the influence of the unique aesthetics and culture of animation and comics on contemporary art.
"POST PiXEL" has been chosen as the theme for this exhibition. Pixels are tiny information pieces in decomposed images. While they exist in the smallest conditions, every pixel can turn into two or three dimensional images through data reorganisation. This basic unit of digital imaging gives rise to endless, unpredictable possibilities for creating art, for breaking the boundaries of existing art forms and for merging and extending new realms of knowledge.
The participating artists are Maurice Benayoun, Silas Fong, Tobias Gremmler, Max Hattler, Ip Yuk-yiu, Fiona Lee, Otto Li and Wong Ping. Through multimedia artwork in forms such as image installation, an animated game and sound installation, the artists take visitors on a thought-provoking journey to explore topics like the human pursuit of technology and the relationship between humans, space, time, media and technology.
The exhibition will run from March 22 to April 17. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/APO/en_US/web/apo/va_animamix_biennale_201516.html, or call 2521 3008 for enquiries.
Ends/Monday, March 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:45
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