Hong Kong Museum of Art Launches "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" Exhibition in Guangzhou

HKMoA's "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition opens in Guangzhou

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) is joining hands with the Guangdong Museum of Art to bring the original Hong Kong-curated exhibition "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" to Guangzhou's vibrant cultural landmark, the Baietan Greater Bay Area Art Center, for the first time. As one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival 2026, the exhibition is being held from today (September 23) to December 15. Renowned Chinese designer Freeman Lau is the Guest Curator, who has adopted a distinctly contemporary Hong Kong perspective to rediscover the stories of Chinese characters from multiple dimensions, encompassing fine art, design, everyday living and popular culture.

The "By the People: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition was first held at the HKMoA from 2022 to 2023 and is one of the HKMoA's "Hong Kong Art: Co-Creation" exhibition series, which received an overwhelming response with over 440 000 visitors. The exhibition at Guangzhou is extending the original rich context with 16 sets of new exhibits added, featuring a total of some 90 sets of exhibits from the collections of the HKMoA, private collectors and other institutions. The artworks include calligraphy, paintings, carvings, contemporary installations and digital art, offering the audience a comprehensive experience of the art of Chinese characters in various eras and media. Highlight exhibits include the "Three palindromes" by Aisin-Gioro Puru (attri.), "Couplet in square word calligraphy" by contemporary artist Xu Bing, "Commemorating My Mentor" by designer and artist Kan Tai-keung, and "Untitled" by contemporary artist Wei Ligang, deciphering the visual codes of the structure and forms of Chinese characters layer by layer, and leading to a cross-disciplinary gateway where calligraphy, design and contemporary art converge.

Co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Guangdong Museum of Art, and co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the HKMoA, the exhibition is being held at Hall 14, 4/F, Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN), No. 19 Baietan South Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou (located within the Baietan Greater Bay Area Art Center). Admission is free. For details, please visit the website of the HKMoA: hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/by-the-people-2-creative-chinese-characters.html.

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN). Photo shows the artwork "Untitled" by contemporary artist Wei Ligang. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN). Photo shows the artwork "Commemorating My Mentor" by designer and artist Kan Tai-keung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN). Photo shows the artwork "Couplet in Square Word Calligraphy" by contemporary artist Xu Bing. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN). Photo shows the artwork "Three Palindromes" by Aisin-Gioro Puru (attri.). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN), rediscovering the stories behind Chinese characters from multiple dimensions. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN), rediscovering the stories behind Chinese characters from multiple dimensions. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Co-organised by the Guangdong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA), the "By the People 2: Creative Chinese Characters" exhibition is on display from today (September 23) to December 15 at the Guangdong Museum of Art (BAIETAN). Photo shows the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Ng Chi-wo (second right); the Director of the Guangdong Museum of Art, Professor Wang Shaoqiang (second left); the guest curator of the exhibition, Freeman Lau (first right); and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok (first left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Property owner fined over $65,000 for not complying with removal order

An owner was convicted and fined $66,600 in total, of which $61,600 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 22) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts, the Kwun Tong Law Courts Building

The case involved several unauthorised structures and projecting structures with a total area of about 97 square metres, as well as the alteration of the approved roof slab at a house on Hiram's Highway. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (September 23), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: AI-found images