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09

Nov
2011
2011 Hong Kong & Shenzhen BI-CITY BIENNALE OF URBANISM \ ARCHITECTURE OPENS IN HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY 2012
Hong Kong, 9 November 2011 – The internationally renowned 3rd Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture will take place in Hong Kong Kowloon Park in February 2012, proudly announced by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA).
 
First collaboration between Hong Kong and Taiwanese Curatorial teams
This year’s curatorial team is comprised of senior architects from both Hong Kong and Taiwan and led by chief curatorsMr.Gene K. King, founder of King Shih Architects (Taiwan) and Mr.Anderson Lee, founder of Index Architecture Limited (Hong Kong),Programme and Venue curator Ms. Julia Lau and Community and Media curator, Ms. Tris Kee (Hong Kong). The theme of the exhibition held in Hong Kong is “Tri-ciprocal Cities: The Time, The Place, The People”. The theme draws parallel analogy among the development of a city and the biological age of a person.

 
“By exhibiting different stories of cities of different biological times around the world, we hope to show how the passage of time and vitality of citizens influences urbanity and cities. Ultimately, we wish to present aspects of a dream city, no matter of what age, is like a person who has compassion and wisdom of the old, sophistication and practicalityof the middle-aged, and purity and vitality of the young,” say Mr. Gene K. King and Mr. Anderson Lee, Chief Curators of the exhibition.
 
International and local Architects and Artists Assemble to Promote Community Involvement
Around 50 participating parties are expected to exhibit in this Biennale, including Hong Kong, Asian and European architects, designers and artists. By exhibiting the renowned masterpieces and innovative new works, this Biennale hopes to establish a cultural dialogue both locally and internationally.
 
A series of community activities will be carried out before and during the Biennale to annotate the theme via various multimedia, including performance, movie appreciations, forums, workshops etc.
 
“By involving citizens from different age group and background, this Biennale is designed to attract the public and to foster a close relationship and interaction between the public and community, and to provoke meaningful dialogue,” say Ms. Julia Lau and Ms. Tris Kee, Curators of the Biennale.

 
Subsequent exhibition held in Shenzhen, fostering exchange across the border
The 2011 Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture with the theme of “Urbanism Creation” is held in Shenzhen from 7th December 2011 to 18th February 2012, during which  cooperation and exchange activities will be held at biennales in the two cities. “Shenzhen curatorial team will continue to work side by side with Hong Kong, and organize series of academic activities and exhibitions, we hope to promote the biannual held Biennale to become the biannual grand event,” say Mr. Huang Weiwen, Chief Director of Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture Organizer Committee Office.  
 
The event is sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK). Jerry Liu, Head of CreateHK, says, “Architecture is one of the key components of Hong Kong’s creative industries. CreateHK, as the dedicated office spearheading the development of local creative industries, is pleased to support the provision of a platform for local architects to interact with their counterparts around the globe and for the public to participate in discussion on conservation and sustainable development.”
 
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, together with its Kowloon Park and Antiques and Monument Office, Hong Kong Arts Centre and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts have agreed to be the strategic partners of the exhibition, whilst various government departments, architecture and design, cultural and art-related institutes, as well as tertiary education institutions will be supporting organizations.
 
The Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale Exhibition in Hong Kong will be held at Hong Kong Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui from 15 February until 23 April 2012. Free Admission.
 
To find details on curatorial team, curatorial statement, venue, exhibitors, programme and community events, please refer to the attached documents.
 
For more information on the 2011Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture in Hong Kong, please visit our website: http://www.hkszbiennale.org
 
For high-resolution photos, please download here: www.creativegp.com/QAVB/XXX.zip
 
About Hong Kong & Shenzhen BI-CITY BIENNALE OF URBANISM \ ARCHITECTURE:
Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA); 2011 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture aims to gather both international and local selected architects and professionals, and draw the public’s attention to the most critical issues of current Shenzhen and the acknowledges specific issues of Hong Kong.
 
The 2007 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture took place before at the renowned historical compound, Hong Kong Central Police Station, and had received an overwhelming and encouraging feedback that marked the start of the historical establishment. Not only being the first Bi-city biennale that the two cities began working together, more importantly it was the first architecture, planning and design exposition of international standard hosted in Hong Kong. Subsequently, the 2009 Hong Kong-Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture, held in the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade aimed to investigate the possibility of bottom-up mobilization and the organization of social life. Both exhibitions held in Hong Kong and Shenzhen mobilized both international and local talents and attracted visitors from cities in the region, generated dialogues and forums over issues on design, architecture and city.
 
For further information, please contact:
HKIA Secretariat
Yvonne God
Tel: 2805 7335 / Email: yvonne@hkia.net 
 
Exhibition Media Relations Consultant, Ms. Penn Leung
Tel: 2372 0090 / Email: penn@creativegp.com
 
Please click here for PDF version, and click here for event photos.