HKTDC’s “RetroInnovations” Exhibition Opens at Harbour City
27 November 2018 – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), DesignInspire returns next week (6-8 Dec) to promote design and innovation through an array of interactive exhibits, creative designs and award-winning projects. As a prelude to DesignInspire, and as part of the event’s citywide promotion, the “RetroInnovations” exhibition opens today and runs until 3 Dec at the Gallery by the Harbour at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“RetroInnovations” Showcases Hong Kong’s Creativity
For the show, 19 young local design talents from various disciplines – including architecture, interior design, product design and fashion/accessories design – were invited by the HKTDC to create a series of contemporary installations under the theme “RetroInnovations” to pay tribute to and reinterpret the city’s culture and traditional craftmanship. Designs, inspired by such leisure activities as tea-drinking and bird-walking, are deployed in the creative works of young designers in various art forms including ironwork, ceramics and rattan weaving. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to interact with the installations and experience how creativity improves living and contributes to a happier city, bridges the past and future, and helps promote a positive spirit among city dwellers from all walks of life.
The project is supported by the Design Council of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Interior Design Association and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
DesignInspire Opens Next Week
The second edition of DesignInspire runs from 6-8 Dec at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 220 exhibitors will be featured at the signature event, bringing more than 620 designs and projects that will showcase the latest design concepts and innovations from around the world. Melbourne, the Partner City for this year’s DesignInspire, will feature the works of more than 100 designers from Victoria State in Australia, spanning themes that show how design interacts with Play, Making, Wellbeing, Identity, Invention and Learning. Not to be missed is a five-metre-long running baby T-Rex dinosaur brought in by Melbourne animatronics firm Creature Technology Co.
In addition to global creativity, the expo will showcase hundreds of local design projects and
installations, demonstrating Hong Kong’s design excellence. Highlights include 10 miniature models featuring Hong Kong’s unique cityscape and festivals, such as the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree; various origami paper art works, including a 50-centimetre-long dragon folded from a single piece of paper; and a live graffiti performance.
Meanwhile, a series of interactive events will take place during DesignInspire to promote design and innovative thinking, such as design master talks, STEAM and design workshops and the Robot Boxing League competition.
DesignInspire is open to the public, with free admission over all three days of the event.
RetroInnovations Roadshow
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Date: |
27 Nov-3 Dec 2018 |
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Time: |
11am-10pm |
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Venue: |
Harbour City (Gallery by the Harbour, Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre), Tsim Sha Tsui |
DesignInspire
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Date: |
6-8 Dec 2018 (Thursday to Saturday) |
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Opening Hours: |
6-7 Dec: 9:30am-7pm 8 Dec: 9:30am-6:30pm |
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Venue: |
Halls 3DE, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre |
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Website: |
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Free admission |
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As part of DesignInspire’s citywide promotion, the “RetroInnovations” exhibition opens today and runs until 3 Dec at the Gallery by the Harbour at Harbour City |
Nineteen young local design talents were invited by the HKTDC to create a series of contemporary installations under the theme “RetroInnovations” |
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Exhibit: Bird Cage
This design illustrates the joy of elderly people mingling in gardens with their bird cages via the philosophical perspective of contemporary design. The people-oriented design seeks to provoke the search for happiness from the city’s bits and pieces |
Exhibit: Scrabble Lamp
Based on the idea of the classic and unique Chinese scrabble, the installation is a game and home decor to promote the Cantonese dialect and celebrate the more sophisticated radicals |
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Exhibit: Hold Tight
To offer encouragement and energise the city, the handrails print cheerful messages on passengers’ palms as they hold on to them |
Exhibit: Meow(me)tal Designer: Eugene Leung
Inspired by the traditional galvanised metal craftsmanship of Hong Kong, sheet metal was cut and folded into playful cats. The artist hopes to raise public awareness of art and animal wellness in our city through the display |
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Exhibit: Hand Hammered Copper Desk and Chair Set
The art piece features a classic student desk with chair set made with traditional materials and techniques, demonstrating a subtle yet concrete form of beauty with its sleek and clean design. It also refreshes people’s memory of the once iconic Bauhaus style in Hong Kong and reiterates the truth that simple design stays timeless |
Exhibit: Cascading Waves of Bamboo
The design explores and highlights the flexibility of bamboo by adding a modern twist to the traditional steamers |
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Exhibit: JOAN
Inspired by “Good Morning” towels which were once popular among the working class, the design is intended to give visitors a sense of security and wish them a simple “good morning” with a modern twist of neon lights |
Exhibit: Responsive Prototyping
By combining traditional paper and bamboo crafting techniques with smart sensors, the exhibit celebrates the combination of tradition and technology |
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Exhibit: Off the Grid
The installation presents Hong Kong’s physical and mental image as the steel wires resemble the city’s architectural structures. The designer points to the city’s ability to constantly adapt and transform |
Exhibit: Rosy Clouds
The designer created floating curves by sculpting and moulding with techniques similar to those used for dough figurines (miansu) deploying the contemporary material of chemically reactive epoxy resin. The design invites people to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature |
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Exhibit: Luminous Garden
Inspired by Art Nouveau artworks, the designer brings the natural organic forms into contemporary space by curving, a technique in traditional craft. Flower lanterns were curved by copper wire and resin in different combinations |
Exhibit: The Sound of Taste
Inspired by the traditional “Wan Shou Wu Jiang” bowls, the designer partnered with ceramic artist Louis Lo (盧世強) and Yuet Tung China Works in creating the ceramic loudspeaker, which skillfully combine design, technology, traditional ceramic craftsmanship and functionality |
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Exhibit: Herbal Wellness Lab 4.0
The design seeks to promote “leung cha”, the Chinese herbal tea, as an intangible cultural heritage, through the concepts of new retail models, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence |
Exhibit: Biophilia
The wooden chair reflects the creativity to innovate traditional craftsmanship by integrating cybernetics and information technology in the design |
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Exhibit: The Park
The park-inspired art installation – a combination of terrazzo in sleek geometric silhouettes, recycled foam and rattan – represents an eclectic variety of characters and a seamless marriage with the surroundings |
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Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Banbi Chen Tel: (852) 2584 4525 Email: banbi.yc.chen@hktdc.org
About the HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with the mainland, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities in the mainland and international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.