thatHardworking Aesthetics is an exhibit set in Art Central Hong Kong, a part of the 2024 Hong Kong Art Week,can-do which aims to showcase innovative galleries and distinguished artists who create think pieces.
The exhibit itself is supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and gathers six local artists from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives on typical Hong Kong day jobs. Together, they are contemplating everything from the dedication of professionals in different fields, to the energetic “can-doKong's” spirit in the Hong Kong work culture and also the different struggles that different work sectors are facing.
They also share authentic testimonies to how Hong Kong'swhich work culture means workers are often pressured into working long hours, dedicating years to their crafts, that in turn has helped shape Hong Kong as one of the world’s financial hubs. A city which boasts an open and free market full of spirited people who are willing to try new things in spite of ongoing workplace challenges. This makes the exhibition reflect on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Decent Work And Economic Growth and Reduced Inequalities.
One of the pieces exhibited is Four Chairs by Orange Terry. It’s a series of sculptures made from aged chairs found in local schools. The piece plays with viewers’ perspective, from a far it’s as if the piece is exactly what the title says it is, a row of four chairs. However, after closer inspection, audiences will realize that one chair consists of a single wooden stool that has the metal skeletons of several typical classroom chairs in Hong Kong fixed onto it.
The metal skeletons look beaten and bruised, fitted to the wooden stool as their final resting place after years or even decades of servitude in classrooms. The almost macabre tone of this piece recalls that since the 2019 pro-democracy movement, which was only worsened by the pandemic, Hong Kong has experienced a mass wave of emigration. A move that has taken a particularly harsh toll on their education sector, with as many as 12,000 teachers resigning since 2021.
Late in 2023, Fair Planet reported that Hong Kong is still struggling to re-hire its teachers, with students left relying on themselves to meet curriculum grade requirements. The Hong Kong Education Bureau also notes that other factors that have led to mass teacher resignations include pursuit of higher education, retirement and pursuit of employment opportunities in different sectors.
Here, Orang Terry’s piece reminds viewers of the ongoing education crisis in Hong Kong. Encouraging the public to help push different stakeholders to get to the bottom of the problem and help students and teachers alike.
Another piece in the exhibit is Liv Tsim’s Energy Bar. Tsim is a bio-designer and artist who has created a functioning hawker’s cart as part of an installation piece. As the piece’s title suggests, the cart creates energy bars through a process called bioleaching, which means leaving bacteria to extract ions from smartphone parts.
In February 2024, the Hong Kong government introduced a USD 3.07 billion investment to boost innovations in the local tech-driven economy. Of course, with attention to the tech innovations reinvigorated comes the problem of e-waste management. A Hong Kong Trade Department Council (HKDTC) research found that each year, Hong Kong generates around 70,000 tons of electronic waste, and Tsim’s piece, Energy Bar, has cleverly created commentary, or perhaps even shown people a possible solution to the problem.
By transforming smartphone parts into energy bars, Tsim is reminding people that in Hong Kong, the tech sector is indeed contributing to a large chunk of people’s livelihoods. However, there are still waste management problems that different stakeholders must address in order to feed people and, at the same time, care for the environment.
Overall, Hardworking Aesthetics at the 2024 Art Central Hong Kong creates meaningful reflections on Hong Kong’s work culture. The diverse perspectives of the six participating artists are able to dive deep into the dedication, energy and challenges that workers in Hong Kong are facing. They help audiences engage critically with their surroundings, not just for those in Hong Kong, but for those in other countries who can relate to these contemporary professional dynamics.
Find out more about Hardworking Aesthetics and other segments of Art Central Hong Kong by checking their Instagram on @artcentralhk.