Cover Recollection of Wan Chai by Fan Ho (Photo: Courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery)
Exhibiting everything from traditional black-and-white photography to conceptual artworks that investigate what it means to be human, Hong Kong’s homegrown galleries are pulling out all the stops this month. In no particular order, here are 10 shows you shouldn't miss

1. Empty Gallery: Tishan Hsu and Cici Wu

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Above Tishan Hsu, It is not the Bullet...but the Hole (1991). (Courtesy of Empty Gallery)

In the 1980s, Chinese-American artist Tishan Hsu was pushing the envelope with cyberpunk art that explored how emerging technologies affected art and humanity. Then, in the following decade, he disappeared from the public eye, only to re-emerge last year with even more ambitious pieces.

This exhibition during Hong Kong art month features Hsu’s latest works, which were inspired by the artist’s research into his family history, some details of which were lost in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution. Concurrently, Empty Gallery is also showing an exhibition of works by Beijing-born, New York-based artist Cici Wu.

March 26 to May 25. 18–19/F Grand Marine Centre, 3 Yue Fung St, Tin Wan, 2563 3396. emptygallery.com

2. 10 Chancery Lane Gallery: Stars Will Forever Be Stars

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Above Wang Keping, Prière (2000). (Courtesy of 10 Chancery Lane Gallery)

In 1979, a group of self-taught artists in Mainland China named the Star Art Group staged an exhibition after being denied permission by the government.

The event was swiftly shut down by the police, but its impact has been undeniable. Kicking off celebrations of its 40th anniversary is this solo exhibition by sculptor Wang Keping, whose carved sculptures are the result of his deep fascination with wood.   

March 19 to May 11. G/F 10 Chancery Lane, Soho, Central, 2810 0065. 10chancerylanegallery.com

See also: The Year Of The Pig: 5 Pigs In Art

3. Kwai Fung Hin: Zhang Gong

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Above Zhang Gong, Sentimental Garden (2018). (Courtesy of Kwai Fung Hin)

Chinese artist Zhang Gong is no stranger to blurring boundaries, blending East and West, traditional and digital media, pop culture and art history in his paintings. Through his works, he examines the radical changes in Chinese society in recent decades and expresses his hopes for the country’s future. 

March 22 to April 27. G/F 20 Ice House Street, Central, 2580 0055. kwaifunghin.com

See also: 6 Hong Kong Charities That Support The Arts

4. Galerie du Monde: Juan Ford — Blank

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Above Juan Ford, Recollector (2018). (Courtesy of Galerie du Monde)

Through hyper-realistic paintings that depict post-apocalyptic and dystopian scenes, Australian artist Juan Ford takes inspiration from the Antipodean art canon in order to interrogate the relationship between people and nature. The colour white takes centre stage at this exhibition during Hong Kong art month, which is the artist’s first solo show in the city. 

March 15 to April 20. 108 Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell Street, Central, 2525 0529. galeriedumonde.com

5. Alisan Fine Arts: Lui Shou-kwan Centenary: The Legacy of New Ink, and Women + Ink | China + Hong Kong

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Above Lui Shou-kwan, Zen Painting (1974). (Courtesy of Alisan Fine Arts)

Chinese artist Lui Shou-kwan revolutionised Chinese ink painting through integrating elements of Western abstract expressionism into his work, launching what would later be known as the New Ink Movement. Though originally from Guangzhou, the artist resided in Hong Kong for almost three decades until his death, making the city—Alisan Fine Arts’ Central gallery, to be exact—a particularly apt location for this centenary exhibition.

Meanwhile, the gallery’s Aberdeen location puts on a group exhibition during Hong Kong art month showcasing the female ink painters Hui Hoi-kiu, Ling Pui-sze, Qiao Yuan and Zhang Yirong.

Lui Shou-kwan Centenary: The Legacy of New Ink: March 26 to May 4. 21/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong, 2526 1091.

Women + Ink | China + Hong Kong: March 30 to June 1. 2305 Hing Wai Centre, 7 Tin Wan Praya Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, 2526 1099. alisan.com.hk

6. Edouard Malingue Gallery: Ho Tzu Nyen

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Above Ho Tzu Nyen, The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia — Vol. 3: N for Names (2018, installation view). (Photo: Fred Dott. Courtesy of Kustverein in Hamburg)

Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen’s video and film work deconstructs Southeast Asian history, employing music, lighting and cultural references to craft an ambiguous, dramatic style that prompts the viewer to question their understanding and knowledge of the world.

Ho also creates installations and multimedia artwork, such as the “dictionary” of narratives he created during his residency at the Asia Art Archive.

March 26 to May 2. 6/F 33 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, 2810 0317. edouardmalingue.com

7. Gallery Exit: Chris Huen Sin-kan

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Above Chris Huen Sin-kan, Haze (2016). (Courtesy of Chris Huen Sin-kan)

Hong Kong-based artist Chris Huen Sin-kan reveals the beauty of everyday life with his detailed paintings. Shying away from grand ideas such as politics and religion, he believes that humanity is defined by simple moments, whether a walk through a field or contemplative silence in one’s bedroom.

March 29 to April 27. 3/F 25 Hing Wo Street, Tin Wan, Aberdeen, 2541 1299. galleryexit.com

8. Blue Lotus Gallery: Fan Ho—Portrait of Hong Kong

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Above Fan Ho, Whitty Street Diary. (Courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery)

Famous for his moody black-and-white photographs of Hong Kong shot in the 1950s and 1960s, photographer and filmmaker Fan Ho began looking through old negatives in 2015, rediscovering never-before-shown street shots that he decided to publish in book form. Following his death in 2016, his family and Blue Lotus Gallery completed the project.

March 22 to April 28. G/F 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan. bluelotus-gallery.com

See also: A Look Back At Old Hong Kong With Keith Macgregor

9. Blindspot Gallery: Lam Tung-Pang

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Above Lam Tung-pang, Landscape in Operation (2018). (Courtesy of Blindspot Gallery)

Perhaps best known for his large-scale paintings and drawings on plywood, Hong Kong artist Lam Tung-pang is concerned with collective memory and other issues related to human society, most often explored through depictions of the natural world.

One of the founders of the Fotanian art collective alongside contemporaries Chow Chun-fai and Wilson Shieh, Lam also creates videos, sound art, installations and mixed-media works.

March 26 to May 11. 15/F Po Chai Industrial Building, 28 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, 2517 6238. blindspotgallery.com

10. Puerta Roja: Visions in Motion

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Above Fernando Prats, Affatus 2 (2018). (Courtesy of the artist and Puerta Roja)

Puerta Roja, the only gallery in Asia to specialise in Spanish and Latin American art, is hosting a group exhibition featuring six artists who explore movement in their work during Hong Kong art month. Among them are Carlos Cruz-Diez, a Venezuelan artist considered to be one of the forefathers of the Op Art movement, and Laurent Martin Lo, who constructs delicate installations from bamboo.   

Until May 4. 1/F Soho 189 Art Lane, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, 2803 0332. puerta-roja.com

See also: Art Insider: Adriana Alvarez-Nichol

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