"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st Venice Biennale Unveils

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st Venice Biennale unveils

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) organised "Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" as a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale) to present the artworks of Hong Kong artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui. In its first curation of Hong Kong Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, the HKMoA adopting the musical symbol "Fermata" as the curatorial theme engaged in dialogue with "In Minor Keys", the theme of the Venice Biennale this edition, extending the mission of "connecting art to everyone" and bringing Hong Kong's unique East-meets-West culture and life experiences to the international stage. The exhibition will run from today (May 9) to November 22.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held on May 8 (Venice Time), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law said: "Venice Biennale is the world's oldest international art exhibition. For over 130 years, this prestigious event has drawn art lovers from every corner of the globe. Hong Kong has been proud to participate as a Collateral Event since 2001- one of our flagship overseas art programmes, supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Over the past 25 years, this platform has not only showcased the excellence of our artists, but has also become a vital channel for sharing Hong Kong's rich stories with the world."

"This year marks the beginning of our country's 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. In alignment with this national direction, Hong Kong is committed to fostering greater artistic and cultural exchanges between the Chinese Mainland and countries around the world. It is in this light that our participation in the Venice Biennale carries special significance," Miss Law added.

The Chairman of HKADC, Mr Kenneth Fok,expressed that HKADC was delighted to collaborate with the HKMoA to present Hong Kong artists' outstanding creations to the international arts community. The partnership not only strengthened the local institutional ties, but also enhanced the visibility and influence of Hong Kong arts on the global stage. Mr Fok expected that through this exhibition, more audiences from around the world would have a deeper appreciation of Hong Kong artists' creativity and increased international exchange could be fostered.

Other officiating guests included the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok.

An established media artist, Kingsley Ng, 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. He draws inspiration from "hanging laundry", a common everyday scenery in Venice and Hong Kong for his creation in this exhibition. He has also specially recorded and incorporated the unique night-time sounds of Hong Kong into the multimedia installations, inviting visitors to pause and appreciate the tenderness of transient moments amid the rush of city life.

A promising emerging artist, Angel Hui, is skilled at integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary artistic language. She has invited embroiderers from Suzhou to craft millennia-old embroidery onto ordinary plastic bags in Hong Kong, thereby incorporating national Intangible Cultural Heritage into multimedia installations. She has also collaborated with traditional metalsmiths to create handcrafted iron window grilles in Hong Kong and Venetian styles, with shifting shadows casting onto the walls of an old Venetian house as natural light filters through.

The Hong Kong exhibition covers five installations across the courtyard and four gallery rooms, showcasing Ng's works, "Sometimes, There Are Clouds in Puddles", "Sky Well", "Laundry Nocturne", and Hui's "Drifting Sanctuary" and "I Would Like to Open a Window for You".

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the HKADC, and co-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. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/fermata-hk-in-venice.html.

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Kingsley Ng's artwork "Laundry Nocturne". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Angel Hui's artwork "I Would Like to Open a Window for You". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Angel Hui's artwork "Drifting Sanctuary". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Kingsley Ng's artwork "Sky Well". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Kingsley Ng's artwork "Sometimes, There Are Clouds in Puddles". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Hong Kong artist Angel Hui and her artwork "I Would Like to Open a Window for You". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows Hong Kong artist Kingsley Ng and his artwork "Laundry Nocturne". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy runs from today (May 9) to November 22. Photo shows (from right) the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Dr Maria Mok; participating artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui; and the Curator (Modern and Hong Kong Art) of the HKMoA, Ms Prudence Ma. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The opening ceremony of "Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice" Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia in Italy was held yesterday (Venice time May 8). Photo shows (from left) participating artist Angel Hui; the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Dr Maria Mok; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Kenneth Fok; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; and participating artist Kingsley Ng. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in May 2026

Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2026 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.

In May 2026, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 25.8% and 27.4% respectively over May 2025.

Comparing the first five months of 2026 with the same period in 2025, the volume of Hong Kong's total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 27.6% and 31.0% respectively.

Comparing the three-month period ending May 2026 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 10.8% and 11.0% respectively.

Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.

Comparing May 2026 with May 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 11.8% and 11.1% respectively.

As regards price changes in the first five months of 2026 over the same period in 2025, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 6.7% and 6.5% respectively.

Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.

The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2025, the index increased by 0.6% in May 2026 and 0.2% in the first five months of 2026.

Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.

Comparing May 2026 with May 2025, increases were recorded for the total export volume to Taiwan (70.7%), Vietnam (48.9%), the USA (40.4%) and Chinese Mainland (the Mainland) (31.2%). On the other hand, the total export volume to India decreased by 24.5%.

Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to all main destinations increased: the Mainland (13.2%), Vietnam (11.9%), the USA (11.2%), Taiwan (10.0%) and India (10.0%).

Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.

Comparing May 2026 with May 2025, increases were recorded for the import volume from all main suppliers: Korea (67.2%), Vietnam (57.4%), the Mainland (35.0%), Singapore (14.8%) and Taiwan (3.1%).

Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (24.3%), Taiwan (16.5%), the Mainland (11.7%), Singapore (9.7%) and Vietnam (8.6%).

Further information

Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2026 issue of "Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers". Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).

Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3863 2599).

Source: AI-found images