The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) has supported Hong Kong's vibrant cultural scene by sponsoring a radio series and two exhibitions by Hong Kong artists in Manchester. The radio series and sound installation "One of Two Stories, or Both (Field Bagatelles)" and the art exhibition "From Ocean to Horizon" are both part of the programme of events organised or supported by the London ETO to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

     Featured in the Manchester International Festival, the newly commissioned radio composition and sound installation "One of Two Stories, or Both (Field Bagatelles)" by Hong Kong sound artist and composer Samson Young, fresh from representing Hong Kong at the Venice Biennale, was inspired by mythic tales of 17th century Chinese travellers making their way to Europe on foot. The multi-layered piece was broadcast through a daily five-part radio series, performed by actors, artists and musicians, and features oral histories, sound, song and poetry. Listeners can hear the series online at mif.co.uk/mif17-events/one-of-two-stories-or-both. Following the completion of the radio series on July 4, a free, non-ticketed multichannel sound and visual installation is being staged until October 29 at the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) in Manchester.

     In parallel, the CFCCA is showing "From Ocean to Horizon", an exhibition exploring Hong Kong's contemporary art scene. The group exhibition, also running until October 29 (Manchester time), features creative talents from Hong Kong, none of whom have previously exhibited in the UK.

     The exhibition is symbolic of Hong Kong as a city that defies categorisation. Artists including Ko Sin-tung, Sarah Lai, Au Hoi-lam, Trevor Yeung, Ocean Leung, Tan Kwok-hin and Kong Chun-hei offer unique perspectives on living and working in present-day Hong Kong and how Hong Kong has developed through history.

     Kong Chun-hei has a two month residency at the CFCCA, during which he will develop work while living in and experiencing Manchester.

     Speaking at an opening ceremony hosted at the CFCCA on July 6 (Manchester time) to launch the displays, the Director-General of the London ETO, Ms Priscilla To, said, "The theme of our 20th anniversary celebration is 'Together · Progress · Opportunity'. It is about how we look back on our achievements, and it is also about how we look forward with vision and aspirations to seize the opportunities ahead. 

     "Along this theme, it is our great pleasure to support our established and emerging artists to showcase their works in Manchester, a city with rich culture and heritage. 

     "Over the past 20 years, the 'one country, two systems' arrangement has worked well and Hong Kong continues to rank as the world’s freest economy. Hong Kong has not only continued to thrive as an international financial and business centre, but it has also developed an exciting art and culture scene, and has emerged as a leading art auction hub in Asia.

     "Working with different stakeholders, we are doing our utmost to promote creativity and artistic minds, and to nurture talent in the art and culture field. We are investing heavily in our art and culture facilities, and a notable example is the M+ museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District. To maximise the opportunities presented to our artists, the HKSAR Government is supporting a host of projects to enable them to showcase their talent on the world stage. These exhibitions today are a great example of these endeavours."

     For more information on the CFCCA, visit www.cfcca.org.uk. Information on the other 20th anniversary events organised by the London ETO can be found at www.hketolondon20.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, July 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:44

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