EVENT DESCRIPTION
Organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), the highly anticipated ARTS ‧ TECH Exhibition returns in its third edition with an expanded scale and vision. As a highlight of HKADC’s 30th Anniversary Gala Festival, ARTS ‧ TECH Exhibition 3.0 will present its first thematic exhibition — the Lighthouse. This year’s programmes through the integration of arts and technology invite the public to reflect on the preservation and perpetual reinterpretation of collective urban memory and cultural identity, while inspiring deeper thoughts on integrating culture and technology.
The Lighthouse is curated by Joel Kwong in collaboration with media artist Keith Lam. Running from 14 June to 13 July 2025, the exhibition will transform the Ocean Terminal Deck at Harbour City into an immersive art installation. Combining neon lights, sound and technology into a unique multi-sensory space, it evokes Hong Kong’s maritime heritage and the emotional bond people feel towards “home”.
A Poetic Encounter with Urban Memory
At the heart of The Lighthouse is a towering neon lighthouse sculpture, standing sentinel by the Victoria Harbour, symbolising a beacon guiding seafarers home. People onshore are invited to reach outwards, mirroring how the lighthouse draws in, and listen to the impromptu music intricately woven by the waves at a dedicated telephone booth, connecting the past, present and future of Hong Kong unique cultural identity.
Inspired by Hong Kong’s distinctive maritime geography and urban landscape, The Lighthouse references imagery from local writer Shu Hong-sing whose literary depiction of lighthouses speaks to the city’s identity as a port city. It pays homage to Hong Kong’s early days as a fishing village, while tracing a direct line to Hong Kong today – a high-rise metropolis, with a skyline that resembles a constellation of watchful beacons. As the waves lap against The Lighthouse, their undulating rhythms become a melody that connects the shores, echoing the city’s layered memory and enduring hope.
During the exhibition period, a series of public programmes including guided tour, live performance, documentary screening and sharing session will be held. On the evening of 28 June, Keith Lam and pianist Daniel Chu will present “The Lighthouse Performance: Keith Lam ✕ Daniel Chu”, an improvised soundscape generated by real-time wave data. The duo will construct melodies and dialogues with a piano and a custom-built neon instrument, offering audiences a poetic convergence of light and sound, and a powerful demonstration of how art and technology integrate to create emotional effect.
Visitors can also join the screening and sharing session of Lighthouse Memories – Cape D’Aguilar, a documentary produced by the Lighthouse Heritage Research Connections Project team. The film explores the story of Hong Kong’s very first lighthouse — Cape D’Aguilar — and its enduring story with Victoria Harbour over the past 150 years. Guided tours led by both artists and professional docents will give participants deeper insight into the creative vision and emotional layers behind the installation. Visitors will start their journey from the lighthouse and walk along the harbour front, listening closely to the interplay of waves and light.
