A quick digest of the coolest weekend happenings in Hong Kong.
Friday, March 15
“Come to me, Paradise”: Film Screening & Artists’ Talk
Tai Kwun will be hosting this screening of a “sci-fi documentary” directed by Filipina-Canadian artist Stephanie Comilang and starring three Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong. Like hundreds of domestic workers do every Sunday on their day off, Irish May Salinas, Lyra Ancheta Torbela, and Romylyn Presto Sampaga find a spot somewhere in Central to sit and chill for hours. During that one day every week, the banking district is transformed into a place where these women can relax, eat, pray, and dance. But one day, things change when a “ghost” called Paraiso (or Paradise) interacts with the women. There will be an audience conversation with Comilang after the screening, which will be conducted in English with simultaneous Cantonese interpretation.
7pm to 8:30pm at, Tai Kwun Contemporary, 10 Hollywood Rd, Central. Free.
A Pop Up Show by Jonathan Jay Lee: Opening Party
Soho art gallery Chez Trente will be hosting this pop up show by Taiwanese-American artist Jonathan Jay Lee, an illustrator based in Hong Kong known for his vibrant illustrations. His clients have included Marvel Comics, South China Morning Post, as well as big brand names like Mercedes, Lamborghini, Lee Kum Lee and HSBC. This exhibition will feature illustrations of Hong Kong. For examples of his work, check out his Instagram page.
5pm to 12am on Tuesday to Thursday; 5pm to 3am on Friday to Saturday; 3pm to 12am on Sunday, until Wednesday, April 17 at, Chez Trente, 6 Chung Wo Lane, Soho, Central. Free.
PLAY to Proliferate: Sign City
As the government ramps up efforts to take down many of the city’s iconic neon signs, some groups have been — as Coconuts HK learned last year — working to save some of these signs from the landfill. One such group is Streetsign HK, an NGO which works to draw attention to the disappearing legacy of the city’s unique signboards, including neon signs and other types of overhanging signs. The main installation features rescued pieces of Chinese characters from actual abandoned signboards, combined with lighting and a series of mirrored walls and floors to recreate and “proliferate” an infinity signboards effect, similar to the old street photos of Hong Kong when the collective glow of neon signboards filled up the night sky on every street.
The exhibition will also encourage visitors to “play” or interact and create part of the exhibit by selecting their preferred authentic Hong Kong-style signboard, represented as a graphic combination on transparencies, and to project them into the signboard installation area by the overhead projector.
10am to 8pm until Sunday, May 5 at, Oil Street Art Space, 12 Oil Street, Fortress Hill. Free.
Morgan Wong’s work focuses on the notion of temporality, and how the subject is interweaving with other contexts like perception, geopolitics, and science. This exhibition is part of the Goethe Institute’s series of events on migration and identity and features a series of neon signs in Wong’s handwriting about his frustrations of time as a border in both a conceptual way and his own personal relationship.
10am to 8:30pm until Friday, March 22 at, Goethe-Institut Hongkong, 14/F Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Free.
Cloud Nothings live in Hong Kong
American punk-pop band Cloud Nothings will be giving their debut live performance in Hong Kong as part of their Asia tour, for their latest album Last Building Burning. The band — which hails from Cleveland, Ohio — began as a one-man basement band before growing into a four-piece group with five studio albums to their name.
8pm to 11pm at, MOM Livehouse, B39, Seven Seas Shopping Centre, 117-121 Kings Road, North Point. HK$320 (advanced) HK$420 (at the door).
If you’re planning on spending St Patrick’s Day weekend with some Celtic folk music and French marching band tunes, then Naggin Eejits and Le Groupe Electrogene Fanfare Club have got you covered.
9pm to 12am at, The Aftermath Bar, L/G, 57-59 Wyndham Street, Central. Free.
Club Kowloon pres. Microlounge with Max Davis and Espen Cook
DJs Max Davis (Germany), Espen Cook (Norway) will be spinning the decks at Eaton HK’s music lounge Terrible Baby this weekend.
8pm to 1:30am at, Terrible Baby, 4/F Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon. Free.
Saturday, March 16
This solo exhibition by photographer Sushi Chan features a series of “retro-futuristic” film photographs of Hong Kong taken in the city’s hipster cafes and bars. The photos explore the alienating and empowering effects that technology has on society through the eyes of a “synth” — a being with robot-like characteristics — who feels nostalgic in a futuristic world.
7pm to 8pm until Sunday, March 31 at, Sense 99, 2/F, 99F Wellington Street, Central. Free.
Photography platform and Hong Kong lifestyle site Home Kong will be launching a special photo exhibition that celebrates the city. Entry is free, but there will be a donation box at the event where the proceeds will go to homelessness charity ImpactHK. There will also be a Fergus Heathcote will be DJing, and organic food and drink (HK$50 each) will be provided by Locofama and Blacksalt.
2pm to 4pm at, Bamboo Scenes, 13 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Free.
This fair will gather more than 50 local and international brands flogging vegan-friendly and animal-free products. If you are open to changes in your diet — maybe your New Year’s resolution is to eat less meat or try something new in your lifestyle — then VeggieWorld has got you covered. There will also be talks, panels, and cooking demos on veganism, as well as an open mic where people can talk about their experiences with veganism.
10am to 6pm until Sunday, March 17 at, PMQ 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. HK$150 (one-day ticket, online) HK$280 (weekend ticket, online) HK$180 (one-day ticket, at the door) HK$300 (weekend ticket, at the door).
All The Best: A Solo Exhibition by Ng Lung Wai
This exhibition by local artist Ng Lung Wai brings into question the definition of “painting” and “a painting.” When one thinks of the practice of “painting” we tend to think of anything created by using a brush to apply paint, watercolor, or Chinese ink to a surface, but when other materials are used, then it’s called “mixed media.” Meanwhile, the more conceptual aspect of “a painting” describes the idea of an object made with paint on a surface that is able to stand alone as an object independent of its background. Painting on a wall is “painting,” yet it is not “a painting.” Discuss.
A closing reception for the ceremony will be held on March 25.
12pm to 8pm until Monday, March 25 at, A2Z Art Gallery HK, 41 Gough Street, Central. Free.
Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend at Rúla Búla
The Naggin Eejits continue the St Patrick’s Day weekend celebrations with a night of more Celtic music and dancing at Irsh bar Rúla Búla. There will be lots of Guinness on draft (with special pricing) and Jameson whisky on offer all weekend.
6pm to 9pm at, Rúla Búla, G/F, Grand Progress Building, 58-62 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong. Free.
Mah-jong Crafting Workshop with Uncle King
Mahjong tile crafting is becoming a lost art, and only a handful of mahjong craftsmen remain. Kwun Tong craft brewery Moonzen will be hosting this mahjong tile crafting workshop with one of the city’s remaining master craftsmen, and will also be serving beer on tap while you chisel away. Spots are limited, so reservations are recommended — email ida.fung@moonzen.hk to book.
3pm to 5pm at, Moonzen Brewery, 2A New East Sun Building, 18 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong. HK$300.
Sunday, March 17
Long Poses Life Drawing Session
To Kwa Wan arts gallery Swing A Cat holds regular life drawing sessions on Wednesday evenings, but this week, they’ll be holding it on Sunday. Sessions start with a series of warm-ups where participants draw poses for five minutes, then 20 minutes, then one hour. This session will feature a male model. Drawing tools like A2 paper, charcoal, pencils, easels, drawing boards will be provided, although participants are welcome to bring their own. WhatsApp +852 9378 8614 to register.
2pm to 5pm at, Swing A Cat, Rear Shop, G/F, 241 To Kwa Wan Road, Kowloon. HK$250.
The Irish Village – Irish Dancing, Food and Music
Tamar Park will transform into an “Irish Village” for St’ Patrick’s Day. There will be Irish food, music, and –we’re told — lots of Irish dancing.
2pm to 8pm at, Tamar Park, Admiralty. Free.
Free community yoga class in Tamar Park — yoga instructor Marcel will be guiding students through a Hatha-Vinyasa practice “aimed to cultivate our inner resilience.” All levels of experience can join, and participants should bring their own mats, towels, and water bottles. Note, the event may be cancelled if it rains.
10am to 11:15am at, Tamar Park, Admiralty. Free.
BeCandle Candle Making Workshop
BeCandle, an artisan candle and scented products brand based in Hong Kong, will be hosting a workshop on how to make your own candle. There are only six slots per session, and the cost includes materials.
2pm to 4pm at, Kapok, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. HK$440.
30 Houses Cinema: Graham Women
30 Houses Neighbourhood was, once upon a time, home to family-run businesses, working-class Hongkongers, and laborers. Friends of the 30 Houses Neighbourhood is a not-for-profit organization focused on heritage, conservation, and preserving the local history of the neighborhood. One way they do that is by having outdoor screenings of documentaries like Graham Women, a 44-minute documentary about the lives and love stories of old couples who ran small businesses in Central’s Graham Street Market — a space which is disappearing in the midst of gentrification and redevelopment. The documentary will be in Cantonese with English subtitles, followed by a “sharing session” for all in attendance.
5pm to 6:30pm at, 17 Shing Wong Street, Central. Free.
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