One Hundred Tales: Stories of Hong Kong Yokai by We Are The Pigs

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Throughout the history of time, when humans have faced inexplicable phenomena, ghosts and monsters are imagined due to their inner anxiety and uncertainty. Related urban tales and weird tales are accordingly emerged. Every place in the world has its own ghost stories. Although yokai may only exist in people’s imagination, these supernatural beings undoubtedly reflect the histories and memories of a place. Till today, ghost stories are still prevalent subjects in mass media and entertainment industries such as comics, animations, video games, toys, movie, etc.

Hong Kong local arts unit We Are The Pigs gets inspiration from Japanese Hyakki Yakō (also known as Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) and collects local folklore ghost stories, diving in the allure of ghosts and monsters over the hundred years. They can be found in various districts all over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. However, they no longer look scary but show up in lovely appearances. We Are The Pigs breaks with conventions and creates a collection of yokai characters. Instead of having spine-chilling looks, the characters they designed are lively, interesting and hilarious. Moreover, the artists present Hong Kong horror tales in a visual form of Shokugan (also known as Japanese food toy) stickers hoping to preserve folk history through arts.

Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base) organises One Hundred Tales: Stories of Hong Kong Yokai by We Are The Pigs Exhibition and Artist Talk with a Book Signing Session. Audience can spark some interest and explore more storied and spooky ghost legends in town and gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong history and culture through the illustration collection by We Are The Pigs.

During the exhibition period of One Hundred Tales: Stories of Hong Kong Yokai by We Are The Pigs Exhibition, a touring exhibition Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan, organised by the Japan Foundation and co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre and the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, is also held at Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre. The exhibition introduces Japanese yokai culture from ancient times to the present to Hong Kong audience through a display of various visual art forms and media of popular culture. Japanese and Hong Kong yokai, transcending space and time, gather at Hong Kong Arts Centre this April!