THE Justice Centre Hong Kong has announced the winner of the Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize (HKHRAP) as artist Siu Wai Hang.
His video installation Open Ta Kung Pao examines the relationship between the media, power and hegemony in South China, particularly in reference to Ta Kung Pao, the oldest extant pro-Beijing newspaper.
The prestigious art award package included a cash prize of HKD 35,000 and a trophy crafted by prominent Hong Kong artist Jaffa Lam.
Established in 2013, the HKHRAP runs annually and is open to all Hong Kong-based and Hong Kong-born artists to examine the theme of local or international human rights through their art pieces.
Previous winners have included Elva Lai’s photography project, Family Photo Album: Washing, which explored Hong Kong’s history as refugees, Katie Vajda’s series on domestic workers in Hong Kong and Ducky Chi Tak with his piece 3D Jobs, which considered the labour rights of ethnic minorities.
Curator Sampson Wong and a panel of judges chose from a pool of 126 mixed media pieces a shortlist of 23 artworks, which are on show at Hong Kong’s The Hive Spring until January 11.
The show will then tour to Eaton Hotel Hong Kong, where a different jury will select another winner from the same shortlist to be awarded the Eaton HK Award, and invited for a solo exhibition.
The works will then be auctioned to the public with all the funds going to support the work of the Justice Centre.
Regarding the award, executive director of the Justice Centre Hong Kong, Piya Muqit, said: “In a year where we have seen a number of fundamental rights at risk in Hong Kong, it is heartening to see the arts community continue to support and participate in the Prize, expressing and communicating their views through their creativity.”
by Hannah Valentine
The exhibition is open for public viewing at The Hive Spring until January 11 2019, and is open Monday – Friday, 8am to 8pm
The finalists’ pieces will then be available for public viewing in the Eaton Hotel Hong Kong lobby, with the winning artwork available for viewing at Eaton’s gallery space Tomorrow Maybe, from January 14 to February 3 2019, Monday to Sunday 11am to 9pm
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.