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Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival: 'Joy Again, Gather'
Dates: 13 November 2024 - 12 January 2025
Locations: Sai Kung Town, Yim Tin Tsai, Sharp Island, Kau Sai Chau and High Island, Sai Kung
Sai Kung, affectionately known as 'Hong Kong's back garden', perfectly blends world-class geological vistas and winding natural coastlines. It is also home to a thriving art scene, exemplified by the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival. Since 2022, the festival has been held annually in Sai Kung for three years, with each year featuring a distinct theme. The first event in 2022, themed ‘Joy Again, Isle’ displayed artworks inspired by the lives of villagers on Yim Tin Tsai and Sharp Island. The second event in 2023, with the theme ‘Joy Again, Stories’ extended its reach to Kau Sai Chau and High Island, introduced open calls for artwork proposals and illustrated connections between people, stories and objects on each island. Following these two successful events, the festival returns in 2024 with the theme ‘Joy Again, Gather’ for a dialogue with the present and outlook for the future.
This year, the festival will connect experiences from previous editions and explore various forms of gathering through art and immersive experiences. Highlights include 10 new art installations celebrating connections among communities on the four Sai Kung islands, compelling performances that combine artworks with augmented reality (AR) elements, and contributions from the first overseas artistic team Galmae from France, led by Juhyung Lee, a France-based Korean artist. The festival also features contributions from Sai Kung residents and the next generation of villagers, fostering a meaningful reunion of the past and the present.
Embark on a fascinating journey to the present and future as you delve into each island's tales of local culture, ecology and community.
Plan your visit
Visit the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival’s official website for transport guides, suggested routes and visiting tips. Check their site for arrangements in case of adverse weather.
Sai Kung Town
Connecting lines
As the second largest region in Hong Kong, Sai Kung is a beloved getaway known for its quaint fishing villages, breathtaking scenery, hiking trails, beaches and unspoilt islands. The Sai Kung Promenade is the perfect starting point for your Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival journey.
Don’t miss Ken Lo’s new installation, ‘Hi! Sai Kung’, a hugging sculpture located on the promenade (near the Sai Kung Public Pier) that warmly welcomes visitors and reflects the vibrant spirit of the area.
Yim Tin Tsai
A journey of art and culture
Yim Tin Tsai has a history of nearly 300 years and a fascinating blend of Catholic and Hakka cultures. Visit this charming island to see the artworks that reinterpret Yim Tin Tsai's salt-making history and unique culture from different angles.
Be sure to visit two new artworks 'Meet'n Meal' by O&O Studio, featuring a mosaic of traditional Hakka dishes to show connection through food, and 'Through the Years to Touch You' by X-ARt, which combines bamboo sculptures and AR elements to express villagers' emotional connections to returning home.
Sharp Island
An ode to nature
One of the most accessible sights in the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, Sharp Island boasts spectacular geological wonders, from 140-million-year-old rock formations to a tombolo that only appears at low tide. Here you will find artworks inspired by the island's natural landscapes such as the pineapple bun-like rocks and the tombolo.
In this year’s festival, a new piece by the French artistic team Galmae, led by Korean artist Juhyung Lee presents 'It's Not Here, It's Over Here', an interactive installation that uses ropes to foster movement and connection among visitors. Performed worldwide, this installation emphasises the power of shared experiences and marks its first exhibition in Asia outside Korea.
Kau Sai Chau
A voyage of cultural traditions
Kau Sai Chau is the largest island in Sai Kung. Located at its southern end is Kau Sai Village, a traditional fishing village known for its celebrations of Hung Shing Festival, held annually on the 23rd day of the second lunar month. Through the fishing-inspired artworks, you can have a glimpse into the life of fishermen and their faith and culture associated with Hung Shing.
Discover new installations including 'The Root of Squids' and 'Village Whisper', which bring the island's maritime stories to life. Experience immersive installations that explore squid migration and engage with the island's history through tactile interactions, creating meaningful connections within the community.
High Island
A canvas of time and nature
High Island used to be a shelter and supply depot for ships. Today, it is home to four traditional villages, namely the Hakka villages of Tung A, Pak A and Pak Lap, and the fishing village of Sha Kiu. Their Tin Hau Festival sea parade is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. The island’s history is manifested in artworks that explore the connection between mountains and sea, as well as the island’s hexagonal column rock formations, the life of fishermen, and the changes of the times.
High Island features four new artworks inspired by mythology and oral traditions. Vivian Ho's 'The Chronicles of High Island' connects villages through nature and culture.
Ban Zhang's 'Prismatic Rainbow Mascot' in front of Tin Hau Temple reflects shifting perspectives with mirrored surfaces. Fung Wai Keung and Stefan Chui’s 'Dance with the Wind at Kwong Wo Yuen' evokes Tung A Village's heritage with a nostalgic sign. Finally, 'Rhythm of the Dragon' by architects Shi Qi and Adrian Siu on Tung A beach symbolises life's cycles with community-painted scales made from recycled materials.
Find out more
Please visit the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival official website for more information.
