RE: Wanchai
Hong Kong International Artists’ Workshop

In April 2005, twelve overseas artists and twelve Hong Kong artists will be invited to take part in Hong Kong International Artists’ Workshop (HKIAW), hosted by The AiR Association Limited in the heart of old Wan Chai. In the two-week’s workshop, the artists from diverse cultural background will engage each other to explore new ideas and expand the boundaries of their practice. The workshop will serve as a stimulating platform for cultural exchange and a laboratory for intensive art jamming. The process and result will be displayed in the three-week public exhibition that follows.

Not only HKIAW is an experimentation in art practice, but also one in social process. The project engages itself in the livelihood of the district. The participating artists are encouraged to respond to the specific history and aura of Wan Chai, and to employ local resources, such as the knowledge of the Wan Chai population and craftsmen. To facilitate this, HKIAW works with St. James’ Settlement, the project co-presenter, in a number of outreach activities. One of these is a “buddy system” among the artists, local community and students, through which a three-way partnership and interface will be formed. The organizers will also involve local shops and restaurants in a cultural tour programme. HKIAW is unique in its choice of venue - in Wanchai - an area at a time of undergoing mass urban re-generation, while it's operation ties up the local socio-economic system.

The Hong Kong International Artists Workshop will be part of the international network of workshops developed by the Triangle Arts Trust. Started in 1982 in UK, the Workshop network has hosted 90 events worldwide with 2,500 artists taking part. This is the first time that it is held in Hong Kong. AiR hopes that the pilot project can establish an experimental and repeatable model of artist-in-residence programme and urban re-generation.