Xu Bing Launches Square Word Calligraphy Exhibition in Hong Kong, Promoting Cultural Fusion and Artistic Engagement.

2025-03-25 13:50 Last Updated At：13:58

World-renowned artist Xu Bing's signature work "Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" set to debut in Hong Kong

Renowned artist Xu Bing was appointed in March 2024 as Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion. His inaugural commissioning art initiative showcasing his signature work, Square Word Calligraphy, will be launched at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) starting from tomorrow (March 26). The exhibition gallery will be transformed into a creative classroom incorporating Hong Kong's unique linguistic features to present the "Special Edition for Hong Kong" Square Word Calligraphy. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will also collaborate with MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to display Xu's newest calligraphy works at four MTR stations: Sheung Wan, Admiralty, Exhibition Centre, and Wan Chai.

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World-renowned artist Xu Bing's signature work "Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" set to debut in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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World-renowned artist Xu Bing's signature work "Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" set to debut in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Xu Bing is internationally recognised as one of the most innovative and influential contemporary artists. Square Word Calligraphy is his created writing form that started in 1993 - English is written to resemble Chinese characters. This unique writing system highlights the diversity and integration of Eastern and Western cultures, aligning with the essence of Hong Kong's East-meets-West characteristics. Transforming the exhibition space into an interactive classroom, the art installation "Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" created by Xu has been exhibited worldwide, guiding audiences from different cultural backgrounds to learn and write Square Words, enjoy the fun of traditional Chinese art, and expand creativity through switching between languages.

"Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" is set to debut in Hong Kong. Xu has specially incorporated Hong Kong's unique linguistic features, such as greetings and idioms, in the "Eying East, Wondering West - Square Word Calligraphy Classroom" exhibition at the HKMoA. This enriches the meaning and interpretation of Square Word Calligraphy, opening new avenues for cross-cultural and cross-language communication.

The exhibition invites audiences to explore Square Word Calligraphy from three perspectives: appreciation, learning, and application. In addition to showcasing new Square Word Calligraphy works, the classroom at the HKMoA includes writing tools and copybooks for learning and attempting this special writing system. With digital technology, audiences can apply what they have learned by creating words with Square Word Calligraphy. The exhibition will run from March 26 to July 30 at The Wing (Lower), G/F, HKMoA, and will move to the Oil Street Art Space in North Point from September 29 to January 11 next year. Admission is free.

Apart from the exhibition at museums, the LCSD also collaborates with MTRCL to present "Loping and Looking - Art in MTR", which will display Xu's new creations at four MTR stations from March 26 to September 25. Xu will initiate dialogues with the public by writing the greeting "Long time no see", presented in the form of Square Word Calligraphy, at Sheung Wan Station and present the station names of Admiralty, Exhibition Centre, and Wan Chai with his new writing system, integrating art into the passenger journey. This also marks the first global display of Xu Bing's creations in public transportation spaces.

For details of the exhibition, please visit the HKMoA's website (hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/eying-east-wondering-west.html). For information on the "Xu Bing in Hong Kong: Square Word Calligraphy" art initiative, please visit the Art Promotion Office's website (www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/hk_xb.html).

Hong Kong Delegation Showcases I&T Innovations at 8th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou

2025-04-29 19:26 Last Updated At：19:38

Digital Policy Office leads I&T industry delegation to visit Fuzhou

The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, led a Hong Kong innovation and technology (I&T) industry delegation to visit Fuzhou to attend the 8th Digital China Summit and to participate in the Hong Kong Pavilion at the on-site experience area. The Summit runs for five days starting from yesterday (April 28) at the Fuzhou Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center. The Hong Kong Pavilion, co-organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Fujian Liaison Unit of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, showcases I&T products and solutions from around 30 Hong Kong exhibitors. The display facilitates deeper co-operation between Hong Kong enterprises and the Mainland, demonstrates Hong Kong's vibrant development in the digital technology area to domestic and international audiences, and helps enterprises explore and expand their businesses to the vast Mainland market.

The exhibits in the Hong Kong Pavilion mainly come from award-winning projects in local and international I&T competitions, including the Hong Kong ICT Awards, Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest - Hong Kong Chapter, the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge, and the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance Awards. They cover a wide range of cutting-edge technology fields, such as big data analysis, AI, blockchain, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. The applications of the exhibits are broad, spanning finance, healthcare, smart site management and digital entertainment, highlighting Hong Kong's deep integration of the digital economy with the real economy, as well as high-quality development of new quality productive forces.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion yesterday morning, Mr Wong said that this year marks the first time for the DPO to lead a delegation to showcase technology at the Summit's Hong Kong Pavilion. The exhibition not only provides a valuable opportunity for Hong Kong's I&T industry, allowing the Mainland I&T industry and investors to gain an in-depth understanding of Hong Kong's excellent services and leading products, but also helps Hong Kong enterprises tap into the enormous Mainland market and its diverse business opportunities. In addition, the exhibition showcases the remarkable innovative capabilities of Hong Kong's I&T industry, highlighting the city's potential to integrate into the overall I&T development of the country.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Wong visited the Fujian Artificial Intelligence Computing Center to gain an in-depth understanding of the Center's facilities and technology applications, as well as the status of its support for the development of the AI industry. He then visited the Fujian Big Data Trading Center to learn about the Center's experiences and practices in promoting the development of the data trading business. Finally, he visited China Unicom's Fuzhou Smart Cloud Data Center to learn how the enterprise built a green and low-carbon data centre with high computing power and high security, as well as its latest technology deployment in promoting "Hong Kong data stored in Fujian, Hong Kong data computed in Fujian".

Yesterday evening, Mr Wong attended the Digital China AI City Summit organised by Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd. He shared the latest developments in AI applications by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, as well as the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline released by the DPO on April 15, showcasing Hong Kong's proactive measures in promoting the development of digital government and AI.

Mr Wong attended the opening ceremony of the Summit this morning (April 29). The Summit, under the theme "Digital Intelligence Leads High-quality Development", was co-organised by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Data Administration, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Fujian Provincial People's Government, and undertaken by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and relevant units. In the afternoon, Mr Wong attended a sub-forum on e-government services, hosted by the CAC, where he delivered a keynote speech on strategies for enhancing public services through digital empowerment in Hong Kong.

Mr Wong concluded his visit today and returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

Xu Bing Launches Square Word Calligraphy Exhibition in Hong Kong, Promoting Cultural Fusion and Artistic Engagement.

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