In Hong Kong’s Central district, Tai Kwun—the historic former police station, magistracy, and prison complex—has been reimagined as a leading cultural hub. Since its revitalization, this heritage site has connected the city’s past with the present through diverse art exhibitions and heritage programs. Its latest exhibition, DigiRadiance: GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL, now open through November 30 in F Hall Studio, delves into shared histories across oceans.
Tobias Berger, curator and Lisa Reihana, artist
Courtesy of Tai Kwun
Curated by Tobias Berger, this immersive digital installation showcases new work by renowned New Zealand artist Lisa Reihana. In a poetic retelling of the 1902 SS Ventnor shipwreck, Reihana's video installation draws upon the shared maritime and colonial histories between Aotearoa/New Zealand and Hong Kong. Through this multimedia journey, Reihana explores the connections between these distant lands.
DigiRadiance: Transforming Heritage Through Digital Innovation
As the second installation under the DigiRadiance series, GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL turns Tai Kwun’s F Hall Studio into a digital heritage space, reimagining its historic walls through a contemporary lens. Curator Tobias Berger reflects on the project’s evolution, noting, “With DigiRadiance, we look for artists who can resonate with history, memory, and heritage while also captivating visitors. Lisa is a remarkable artist, whose Māori heritage brings a sensitivity to storytelling that truly enhances the exhibition’s ties to both Tai Kwun’s local history and a broader, international narrative.”
The complex storytelling is complemented by sound design, which creates a profound auditory landscape in the F Hall Studio. A network of 20 ceiling speakers delivers ambient sounds, Maori chants, and industrial clamor, lending the exhibition a sense of both foreboding and reverence. Berger highlights that this approach, merging layered visuals with sound, is meant to evoke the emotions surrounding the historical events depicted: “It’s a quite sad story, yet very moving, interweaving the tales of gold miners, merchants, and prisoners—each character connected to place and memory.”
Exhibition view of DigiRadiance: GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL, 2 Nov to 30 Nov 2024, F Hall Studio, Tai Kwun
Lisa Reihana, GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL, 2024,Courtesy of the artist
Exhibition view of DigiRadiance: GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL, 2 Nov to 30 Nov 2024, F Hall Studio, Tai Kwun
Lisa Reihana, GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL, 2024,Courtesy of the artist
A Dialogue Across Cultures and Histories
Reihana’s installation resonates deeply with themes of migration and cultural fusion. Inspired by her visit to Tai Kwun’s former prison cells, Reihana explains how she felt a connection between the colonial histories of Hong Kong and New Zealand: “Both my homeland and Hong Kong share legacies of British rule, and through these characters—the Matron, the Merchant, the Cantonese Gold Miner—I wanted to bring forward stories of resilience and collective care.” The artist uses Maori chants and Cantonese vocalizations to create an audio-visual dialogue that bridges geographical and cultural distances.
Reihana’s installation seeks to honor those whose lives were shaped by the voyages between these distant lands. By merging local sounds, Maori traditions, and historical references, she has crafted a visual symphony that conveys an intimate reflection on migration, belonging, and identity. The result is a poignant tribute that resonates with Tai Kwun’s mission of preserving heritage while fostering contemporary engagement.
"DigiRadiance: GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL" will be on display daily from 11 am to 7 pm in F Hall Studio at Tai Kwun until November 30. This exhibit invites visitors to step into a shared history, where the echoes of the past meet the present through art, sound, and storytelling.
DigiRadiance: GOLD_LEAD_WOOD_COAL
Date: November 2nd to 30th
Opening hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Venue: F Hall Studio at Tai Kwun
(10 Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong)
Website: https://www.taikwun.hk/en/
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