Hong Kong to Showcase Artistic Diversity at 2026 Venice Biennale with Ng and Hui's Collaborative Exhibition

Artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui to represent Hong Kong at 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA), upon invitation from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), is collaborating with the HKADC for the first time to participate in the Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy, from May to November 2026. The HKMoA and the HKADC will jointly present selected works of Hong Kong artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui at the exhibition to showcase Hong Kong's artistic diversity on the international stage.

Curated by the HKMoA, the exhibition explores the poetic rhythms of everyday life, engaging in a dialogue with the curatorial theme "In Minor Keys" of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia. Drawing on familiar yet fleeting moments from daily life in Hong Kong, the exhibition guides visitors on a journey of self-discovery within the flow of life.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, the two participating artists excel in drawing inspiration from Hong Kong's cultural context and quotidian experiences, reinterpreting daily-life rhythms and aesthetics through varied mediums such as light, sound and installation. Ng, an established media artist, is known for his poetic, site-specific installations that extend the viewer's perceptions of life. His works have been presented extensively in notable exhibitions locally and internationally. Hui, a promising emerging artist, is skilled at integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary artistic language, recreating everyday objects to evoke cross-cultural artistic possibilities. Together, the two Hong Kong artists, as keen observers of the nuances of urban daily life, are transforming their reflections into creative inspirations for connecting Hong Kong and Venice - two international metropolises from various perspectives, thereby demonstrating the vitality and accomplishment of Hong Kong art to the international audience.

Established in 1895, the International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia is the world's oldest international exhibition of contemporary visual arts. In each edition, some 100 countries and regions join the national pavilions and collateral events. Since 2001, the HKADC has been participating in the International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia through a collateral event, aiming to promote Hong Kong's art development as well as cultural exchanges at international art platforms.

To foster broader participation from fellow art practitioners and create opportunities for Hong Kong artists to advance their careers on the international stage, the selection of artists to participate in the exhibition was guided by a nomination and assessment process. The HKMoA had invited nominations from local tertiary institutions as well as professional art organisations. Artists or artist collectives directly commissioned by the museums and offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in recent years were also included. The nomination list covered over 200 artists. A professional selection panel then shortlisted artists for the HKMoA's final consideration. The HKMoA has selected Ng and Hui from the shortlist.

The curatorial team of the HKMoA is deeply honoured to be curating the Hong Kong Exhibition at the International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia.Established in 1962, the HKMoA is the city's first public art museum. For over six decades, it has been committed to collecting and promoting Hong Kong art, as well as fostering strong collaborative relationships within the sector. It has built up a wide network and extensive experience, nurturing the growth of local artists and actively fulfilling its role as "theart museum of Hong Kong". The HKMoA expressed hope that, by joining hands with the two artists, representative Hong Kong art will be impressively brought onto the global stage.

The members of the selection panel are: Guest Professor of School of Intermedia Art of the China Academy of Art Professor Johnson Chang; Museum Expert Adviser of the LCSD Dr William Lim; Senior Advisor of the Mori Art Museum, Japan, Mr Fumio Nanjo; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee of the LCSD, Professor Douglas So; Professor Wang Huangsheng from the Central Academy of Fine Arts; the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok; and the Curator (Modern and Hong Kong Art) of the HKMoA, Ms Prudence Ma.

The Hong Kong Exhibition at the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia is presented by the LCSD and the HKADC and organised by the HKMoA and the HKADC. It will be held in Venice, Italy (Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122), from May 9 to November 22, 2026.

For details of the two participating artists, please refer to the Annex.

Artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui to represent Hong Kong at 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.

Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.

The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:

(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.

(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.

"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.

Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.

Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Source: AI-found images