WHAT
The exhibition marks the inaugural commissioning art initiative of the celebrated Chinese artist (b.1955) in the city, following his appointment as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion last year. ‘Square Word Calligraphy’ is a form of writing Xu Bing began developing in 1993, in which English is written to resemble Chinese characters. This writing system highlights the interplay between Eastern and Western cultures, aligning with Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural tapestry. It invites the audience to explore the presentation from 3 perspectives, encouraging them to reflect on language and culture, challenging fixed ways of thinking, and sparking creativity through the switching between languages.

WHY
The artist is recognised internationally as one of the most creative contemporary artists, masterfully blending traditional Chinese culture with contemporary elements. For this exhibition, he has especially incorporated Hong Kong’s distinctive linguistic features in the exhibition, further enriching the meaning and interpretation of the presentation, and opening up new possibilities for intercultural and interlingual communication.