Hong Kong International Airport celebrates unique culture at the 2024 Arts and Culture Festival

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Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) today launched its 2024 Arts and Culture Festival with a grand opening ceremony. Running from today until October 31, the festival transforms the terminal into a vibrant cultural hub. Travelers can immerse themselves in a diverse selection of art exhibitions featuring works by local Hong Kong artists, highlighting the city’s rich cultural diversity.

This festival is not only a visual feast but also a platform for performing arts. Last month, travelers were treated to a series of stage performances that added a dynamic element to the festival’s offerings.

The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has collaborated with several esteemed institutions to create this festival. Partners include M+, MobArt Gallery, the Art Promotion Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Together, they have curated exhibitions that celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Hong Kong’s art scene.

Prominent figures from the city’s arts and culture sectors attended the opening ceremony. Among them were Esa Leung, Deputy Director (Heritage and Museums) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director of M+; Rebecca Ip, Managing Director of the Hong Kong Arts Centre; and Shirley Chung, Director of MobArt Gallery. Their presence underlined the community spirit and cultural significance of the festival.

The HKIA Arts and Culture Festival 2024 is a testament to Hong Kong’s thriving arts scene and offers travelers a unique opportunity to experience the city’s creativity and cultural richness firsthand.

Vivian Cheung, acting CEO of AAHK, said at the event: “As the gateway to Hong Kong, the HKIA is an ideal venue to showcase the diverse cultural landscape of our vibrant city. Since 2015, the HKIA has provided a valuable platform for both established and emerging local artists to showcase their work to a global audience. The arts and culture festival will enrich the journey of every traveler who passes through the airport. The completion of the three-runway system this year will also enable more travelers to visit Hong Kong and experience the city’s diverse culture and vibrant arts scene.”

The Hong Kong International Airport Arts and Culture Festival 2024 promises an immersive experience with four exhibitions on a range of themes, from traditional crafts to digital art. This year’s festival highlights Hong Kong’s rich intangible cultural heritage with life-size replicas of iconic items such as bamboo steamers and mahjong tiles. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to personalise postcards featuring Hong Kong street scenes with stamps in the iconic ‘Lee Hon Kong Kai’ font, a distinctive calligraphy style that has been widely used in Hong Kong’s signage since the 1970s. In addition, limited edition luggage stickers designed by local artists will be available for visitors.

A standout feature of the festival is a series of Gongbi paintings, a traditional Chinese art form known for its complex and precise depictions of nature. These paintings have been transformed into dynamic and interactive artworks at the Ground Transportation Centre using digital multimedia technology. The artists have brought modern innovations and used augmented reality and motion graphics design to add creative touches. Visitors can interact with these artworks by selecting their favourite paintings and combining them with selected materials and colour palettes to create personalised animations in a virtual environment.

The airport’s giant digital screen will feature four animated paintings created by local artists in collaboration with 260 secondary school students. This collection explores Hong Kong’s vibrant culture from different perspectives, giving visitors a sense of ‘home’ amidst the hustle and bustle of the airport. Each artwork is brought to life through cutting-edge digital technology, providing a captivating visual experience.

In addition, over 20 watercolor paintings by renowned local artist Kong Kai-ming are on display in the departure lounge. These paintings depict beautiful natural landscapes of Hong Kong, providing a tranquil and picturesque view of the city’s surroundings.

A celebration of creativity and heritage, the HKIA Arts and Culture Festival 2024 offers travellers a unique insight into Hong Kong’s artistic and cultural heritage.