Urban Species

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Urban Species, the first night-time art exhibition curated by MUSTHAVEKEYS, introduces new works by six artists on the various species that inhabit the city in response to the ways of urban living of today’s human beings and the resulting changes and connections from 25 August to 15 October 2023.

The exhibition includes TWO parts, the first part of the exhibition, named “Desire,” showcases the works of Kensa Hung, Michael Whittle, and Ivy Yuen Chun Tai from 25 August to 16 September 2023. Portrayed from the human perspective, various species are a reflection of the extension of our human desires. The second part of the exhibition, “Reminiscence” showing from 20 September to 15 October 2023, deals with the history of the streets in Central and the changes in their outlook through the works of Natalie Lo Lai Lai, Macy Tse Ming Sze, and Yuen Nga Chi, drawn from the artists’ personal experiences and through the exploration via different species of the characteristics of places and their association with personal identities, memories and sentimentalities, and the imaginations of Hong Kong.

Amidst the rapid urban development in Hong Kong, the boundaries of the city and nature overlap, and the relationship between humans, animals, and the city is complex and intricate. In the human-centric city, other species are regarded as mere accessories or even outsiders and are only allowed to survive in the gaps or under certain permitted conditions.

Species that find themselves lost in the urban labyrinth, hidden in the dark corners of the city, have always played a side role in our urban narrative. Long-time animal scholar Cathy Huang Tsung-chieh points out in her book The Face of Ethics that both humans and other species need to define each other’s spaces in the crowded urban environment, where boundaries overlap and struggle against the surroundings constantly happen. At the same time, the relationship between humans and nature is fluid, where compromises, adaptations, and transformations are made to meet survival needs, and the two do not necessarily stand in a binary opposition. As a symbol, the faces of other species not only reflect our human desires but also serve as an allegory, the portal and vessel for understanding the city, connecting the players and events of the city, including the anxieties and loss brought about by all the changes of the city. Humans, like animals, must constantly face the challenges brought about by the changes in their surroundings, even transforming themselves to adapt to different environments in order to survive in this world. Through different species, the exhibited works reveal to us human beings as an urban species their desires and states of existence.

As a species mainly active during the day, humans have always adopted a way of living based on the rising and setting of the sun. For humans, the day represents occupation, restlessness, speed and efficiency, while tranquility and restfulness constitute the night. The lack of light at night makes it difficult for humans to discern their surroundings, leading to such associations as enchantment, mystery, ambiguity, fearfulness, and anxiety. Compared to the bright day, where everything is clearly exposed under the sun, the dark night is often referred to as the hidden desires and dark sides within us.

Visitor Registration
“Urban Species” is open by successful appointment only. Please book online prior to the visit : https://www.popticket.hk/en/event/urban-species