Hong Kong, 16th February, 2012 – Organized by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA), and in collaboration with the Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism \Architecture Organizer Committee, the third edition of Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture will be officially launched on 16th February, 2012 at the Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, showcasing distinctive works by both local and international architects, planners, designers and artists.
This year’s theme is “Tri-ciprocal Cities: The Time, The Place, The People” and the exhibition will run from 15th February to 23rd April, 2012. The curatorial team comprised of senior architects from both Hong Kong and Taiwan and led by Chief Curators Mr. Gene K. King (Taiwan) and Mr. Anderson Lee (Hong Kong); the Programme and Venue Curator is Ms. Julia Lau (Hong Kong); and the Community and Media Curator is Ms. Tris Kee (Hong Kong).
This year’s biennale has received sponsorship from various government departments of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Taipei. We are pleased to announce the leading sponsor being Create Hong Kong, the dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to promote local creative industries, with Pavilion sponsorships kindly offered by the Development Bureau, HKSAR; Special Foundation for Development of Culture and Communication Shenzhen; Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture Organizer Committee; Department of Urban Development of Taipei City Government; Urban Redevelopment Office of Taipei City and JUT Foundation for Arts & Architecture. Our strategic partners for the Hong Kong Exhibition are the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, together with its Kowloon Park and Antiques and Monument Office, the Hong Kong Arts Centre and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; whilst assorted government departments from architecture, design, cultural and art-related institutes as well as tertiary education institutions are the supporting organizations.
“Tri-ciprocal Cities”, the first-ever collaboration between Hong Kong and Taiwanese architects, examining the interactive relationship among time, place and people
The 2011 edition of Bi-City Biennale was started with the Shenzhen Biennale which was launched on 7th December 2011, andwill run until 18th February 2012. With the theme of “Architecture creates cities. Cities create architecture”, the Shenzhen Biennale sheds light on reciprocal relationship among architecture and urbanism within the context of time and place that supports environmental sustainability and generates cultural vitality.
Gene K. King and Anderson Lee, Chief Curators of the Hong Kong Biennale, have created a word “tri-ciprocal” and developed the theme into “Tri-ciprocal Cities: The Time, The Place, The People” for the Hong Kong Biennale, examining the essence and quality of Hong Kong as a high density and people-oriented city, which is regarded as a variation, or extension, of the Shenzhen’s theme of “reciprocal”.
“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 influence urbanity and cities. Ultimately, we wish to present different aspects of a dream city, regardless of age, like a person who has compassion and wisdom of the old, sophistication and practicality of the middle-aged, and purity and vitality of the young,” comments Gene K. King.
Anderson Lee also says “Third Time's the Charm! This Biennale marks the third time that Hong Kong and Shenzhen jointly organized. With Tri-ciprocal Cities as our theme, it is also my hope that this marks the beginning of a Cultural Trialogue between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Taipei, thus forming a Tri-city Biennale in the future!”
Assembly of local and international distinctive works to promote community involvement The Hong Kong Biennale with over 50 participating partiesincluding Hong Kong, Asian and European architects, planners, designers and artists.The President of HKIA Dominic Lam points out, “2011 -12 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture is an exhibition project in collaboration with the Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture Organizer Committee. It is the third time for Hong Kong and Shenzhen to work together after 2007 and 2009, which has a significant meaning since this year is ‘Hong Kong Design Year’ while Shenzhen has long been regarded as the “City of Design”. This year’s biennale has divided Kowloon Park into five different pavilions, breaking through the tradition of “one theme, one exhibition” by connecting the correlated exhibits together and creating the first time of local Biennale.”
A series of community activities will take place during “2011-12 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture” to explain the theme via various multimedia events, including performance, movie appreciations, forums, workshops etc.
The Shenzhen’s curatorial team will continue to work with the Hong Kong team, organizing a series of academic activities and exhibitions in order to cultivate further exchange across the border. Mr. Wang Youpeng, Deputy Secretary General of the Shenzhen Municipal says, “The Bi-City Biennale not only connects the related academic subjects, industries and public in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, but also creates the platform for exchange and interaction. It also heavily promotes the development of the creative and cultural industry as well as the public area in the cities. The Bi-City Biennale has uplifted the cultural standard of the cities, changing the city outlook and concept of city management.”
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 in Tsim Sha Tsui from 15th February until 23rd April 2012. Admission is free.
For more information on the 2011-12 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture in Hong Kong, please visit our website:
http://www.hkszbiennale.org
