WHAT WE KNOW

What does heritage mean to you? Are discarded objects culturally important? The show explores the critical and creative relationships between heritage and contemporary art through the works of 6 artists/artist groups from Hong Kong and beyond. Rather than focusing on rare or expensive materials, the thought-provoking show elevates mundane objects to items of value, prompting a discussion about what differentiates art, heritage and debris, examining objects in contemporary culture worth preserving.

WHY WE LOVE IT  

Each of the artists offers insight on the many ways that ‘heritage’ provides a productive lens to engage with contemporary issues, while expanding on the notion of ‘heritage’ itself. I Heritage conservation thus becomes an active and creative process that generates relatable ideas connected to the contemporary world and our common future, rather than a passive process of simply preserving things from the past. The exhibition also considers how much power individuals have in determining what is retained and reimagined of our heritage. In addition, it articulates the diverse connotations of heritage, but also offers up an analysis and exploration of how contemporary artists embody a material, dialogical, emotional, and intellectual response to heritage.