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In this technologically advanced and materialistic era, people often use money to pay for convenience and to save time in fixing problems in life. The Superb Meaningless Invention Group, however, is not satisfied with this approach. Its members would rather devote their hearts and minds to the painstaking design and creation of inventions that will solve small day-to-day problems. If you are interested in learning more about how they turn wild ideas into reality, you should not miss the "Superb Meaningless Invention Exhibition", now on at the Exhibition Gallery, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The show features works created by 20 group members.
The "Superb Meaningless Invention Exhibition" is the fourth exhibition in the Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme V (AIN), organised by the Art Promotion Office (APO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
The exhibition was officially opened today (July 16) by the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Dr Louis Ng; Professor Kurt Chan from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the representative of the Superb Meaningless Invention Group, Mr Homan Ho; and the Chief Curator of the Art Promotion Office, Ms Lesley Lau.
Members of the Superb Meaningless Invention Group are Homan Ho, Chow Chun-fai, Margaret Chu, Ho Sin-tung, Lam Tung-pang, Jack Lau, Ron Lau, Man Lim-chung, Alex Mok, Rice Ng, Ng Ka-chun, Roy Ng, Pierre Pang, Siu Hak, Samuel Adam Swope, Tam-shui, Tang Kwok-hin, Justin Wong, Kacey Wong and Sindy Wong. The members come from different creative backgrounds and include visual artists, designers, writers, film art directors and more. Based on close observation and attention to daily life, the group addresses the most trifling concerns of everyday living by means of contemporary artistic thinking and techniques. It also encourages viewers to unleash their creativity and facilitates artistic communication and development. In 2009, the group organised the "Superb Meaningless Invention Exhibition" in Fo Tan. Inventions and designs by some of the group members have been used and collected by private collectors.
The members of the group look back to simpler times and use handcrafted items to touch people's hearts. The exhibition shows more than 30 inventions such as "Rainless Aid Model 0131", "Smoke Purify Gun", "Socketformernator", "Counting Sheep, Wide Awake", "Insect Repellent" and more. Each invention is enriched with the daily concerns of different group members to convey their idiosyncrasies and personalities. If someone in the material world says the inventions are "meaningless", they can be considered as "superb" inventions in the spiritual world.
Incorporating playful elements to enhance the visitor's sense of immersion, the exhibition allows visitors to wear a laboratory gown and hold the "Raider Guide to the Superb Meaningless Invention Exhibition" to discover and relate to the exhibits. Visitors can be rewarded with various "Superb" items that are intended to inspire their creativity and encourage them to pay more attention to simple objects and issues in daily life.
Following the exhibition at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre running from now to July 25, the exhibits will be moved to the L1 Gallery, Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC), for display from July 28 to August 7.
This year, the APO has launched the Design Partnership Scheme to enable effective adoption of art in the community through the participation of local designers and integrating the creative power of various media. With the assistance of Mr Javin Mo as the design partner to provide visual image design for this exhibition, and through interaction and participation at different levels, the exhibition opens up a brand new artistic experience for its visitors.
Free guided tours will be offered to the public and school groups. For bookings, please contact the APO's Community Art Team on 3101 2712 or 3101 2713 at least five working days before the planned date of the visit. The exhibition can also be accessible to all through the Arts Accessibility Service. Please contact the Jockey Club Arts Accessibility Service Centre of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong on 2777 1771.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Its exhibition gallery is open daily from 10am to 8pm. The JCCAC is located at 30 Pak Tin Street, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon, and is open from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.
For details of the exhibition, please visit the AIN page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ain.apo.hk/, or call 3101 2712 or 3101 2713.
Ends/Monday, July 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:30
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