British Council Admiralty｜The British Council presents the exhibition 'Gleams and Echoes', featuring the British Council Collection and a dialogue with Hong Kong's young artists

Description

The British Council announces its second art exhibition, 'Gleams and Echoes', at the newly transformed 'Bookshop Gallery'. Curated by Hong Kong curator Wong Ka-ying, the exhibition brings together the British Council Collection and creations by local young artists, transforming the Bookshop Gallery into a vibrant platform for artistic exchange, weaving together new sparks of artistic perspectives between the UK and Hong Kong through creativity, contemplation and dialogue.

'Gleams and Echoes' builds upon the 'GREAT Art' zone jointly presented by the British Council and the British Consulate-General Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Rising Contemporary Art Fair in May 2025, with a redesigned theme. This exhibition breaks free from the art fair format, delving into cultural identity, artistic expression and local characteristics through a dialogue between the British Council Collection and the creations of Hong Kong's new generation of artists from a fresh perspective.

Curatorial concept: 'Exchange, Response and Transcendence'

The exhibition features a selection of artworks from the British Council Collection, including pieces by Conrad Atkinson, Richard Davies, Dan Hays, John Hewitt, Leonard Rosoman and Jack Smith. It also showcases the latest creations of five emerging Hong Kong artists: Cheng Suet-kei (baaak3), Chan Kam-lun (David Chan), Hui Chung-ling (Genie Hui), Leung Hoi-kiu (Arlie Leung) and Wong Chun-ho (Harris Neck).

In the spirit of continuing the British Council Collection series' exploration of innovation, 'Gleams and Echoes' invites Hong Kong's emerging artists to break free from traditional frameworks and respond to the Collection from novel angles. Their creations express their thoughts and feelings about identity, sense of belonging and local culture through sincere and distinct perspectives.

Under the curatorship of Wong Ka-ying, the Bookshop Gallery transforms into a dynamic learning platform, allowing audiences to experience the intersection and inspiration of art from both the UK and Hong Kong. The exhibition demonstrates the important role of the Bookshop Gallery in education, experimentation and cultural exploration through the juxtaposition and interaction between the creations of local emerging artists and the Collection.

Susannah Morley, Country Director of the British Council Hong Kong, said, 'The British Council Collection is dedicated to promoting artistic exploration and fostering in-depth cultural exchange. 'Gleams and Echoes' creates a dialogue between the Collection and the perspectives of Hong Kong's young artists, turning this new generation of artists, rooted in Hong Kong yet with an international outlook, into cultural bridges connecting the UK and Hong Kong, the past and the present. We hope that through this exhibition, audiences can explore cultural identity, artistic expression and the relationship between regional characteristics and creations from fresh angles, and witness how the emerging generation will lead the way for future cultural development.'

(From left to right)

Eve Tam, Hong Kong Arts Manager, British Council

Brian Davidson, British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao

David Chan, Participating Hong Kong Artist

Arlie Leung, Participating Hong Kong Artist

Susannah Morley, Country Director, British Council Hong Kong

Genie Hui, Participating Hong Kong Artist

Harris Neck, Participating Hong Kong Artist

Wong Ka-ying, Curator

Artists (UK): Conrad Atkinson, Richard Davies, Dan Hays, John Hewitt, Leonard Rosoman, Jack Smith

Artists (Hong Kong): Cheng Suet-kei (baaak3), Chan Kam-lun (David Chan), Hui Chung-ling (Genie Hui), Leung Hoi-kiu (Arlie Leung), Wong Chun-ho (Harris Neck)

Curator: Wong Ka-ying