X-Xperimenting Exhibition Danny Yung 50 Year Creations X-Xperimenting Exhibition Danny Yung 50 Year Creations X-Xperimenting Exhibition Danny Yung 50 Year Creations

Danny Yung, Co-Artistic Director of Zuni

Danny Yung is a trailblazer in the advocacy of international cultural exchange and development. Before his return to Hong Kong from New York in the 1970s, he adopted crystalized thought in the vital inter-relationship among research, exchange and policy advocacy. Besides devoting himself to theatre-making and Tian Tian Xiang Shang (TTXS), he has initiated a number of international cultural exchange platforms, such as the International Network of Cultural Diversity, Asia Arts Net, the World Culture Forum, the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organisations, and the City-to-City Cultural Exchange Conference, which have helped lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong as a hub of international cultural exchange.

Danny has been an experimental art pioneer for over 50 years. Since the 1970s, he has been keen on cross-media art creations, including film, comics, installations, video, theatre and conceptual art. In 1982, he co-founded Zuni Icosahedron (Zuni), the epitome of experimental art in Hong Kong, and led the team to Taipei for performances and cultural exchange in the same year. The present Co-Artistic Director of Zuni, Danny has established various platforms for exchange and experimental art creations on- and off-stage. For over 50 years, Danny’s devotion to fostering cross-cultural experimentation and exchange has persisted. In return, with the unwavering support he has received from a generous number of invited artists of various backgrounds, regions and cultures, a rich body of works involving cross-media creations and dialogues has been created.

Artist Danny Yung and a "Tian Tian" figure designed by him.

Artist Danny Yung (centre); the Acting Museum Director of the HKHM, Dr Raymond Tang (first left); and the three guest curators of the exhibition, designer Freeman Lau (second left), Zuni Icosahedron's Co-Artistic Director cum Executive Director Mathias Woo (second right) and Zuni's International Exchange Director, Wong Yue-wai (first right) hosted the opening ceremony

This exhibition is a re-construction and re-imagination of some of Danny’s classic works of art, including Video Circle, which was exhibited in Hong Kong and Berlin; Tian Tian Xiang Shang, a large-scale flower plaque bamboo installation, which was exhibited at the National Mall in Washington, DC, US; and Tian Tian Xiang Shang conceptual comics and figurines, which were co-created and exhibited in Europe, America and Asia.

Renowned designer Freeman Lau, Zuni’s Co-Artistic Director cum Executive Director Mathias Woo, and Zuni’s International Exchange Director Wong Yue-wai are the guest curators of the exhibition. On display will be Danny’s visions and contributions in various areas, including cross-media and experimental art, visual and performing arts, art criticism, cultural advocacy, and the preservation and development of traditional craftsmanship.

The opening ceremony was held today (November 15). Officiating guests included the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Eve Tam; Danny Yung and his friends Mr Lau Chin-shek, Ms Anna Wu and Mr Tsang Tak-sing; and the Acting Museum Director of the HKHM, Dr Raymond Tang.

The Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Eve Tam (fifth left); artist Danny Yung (fourth left) and his friends Mr Lau Chin-shek (third right); Ms Anna Wu (fourth right); Mr Tsang Tak-sing (third left); and the Acting Museum Director of the HKHM, Dr Raymond Tang (second left) at the ceremony.

The "GATEWAY - Flower Plaque Secret Garden", a large-scale flower plaque bamboo installation that combines traditional bamboo scaffolding and flower plaque crafting techniques of Hong Kong.

Highlight exhibits include the “Video Circle” installation project that Yung created in 1996, and the “Tian Tian” figurines designed by people from different backgrounds whom Yung invited as part of his collaborative project. Also featured is “GATEWAY – Flower Plaque Secret Garden”, a large-scale flower plaque bamboo installation that combines traditional bamboo scaffolding and flower plaque crafting techniques of Hong Kong.

"Tian Tian Xiang Shang" conceptual comics that Yung started creating in the 1970s, and the peeking line on the glass wall.

“Tian Tian Xiang Shang”, conceptual comics that Yung started creating in the 1970s are exhibited on the glass wall surrounded the “GATEWAY – Flower Plaque Secret Garden”, visitors can also see through the peeking lines designed on glass wall for more marvellous artworks created by Yung.

"Video circle" installation created by Yung in 1996

"Video Square - Deep Structure of Chinese Culture", a classical arts technology installation created by Mathias Woo, and also a tribute to Yung's "Video Circle".

"Tian Tian" figurines designed by people from different backgrounds whom Yung invited as part of a collaborative project.

Yung's calligraphy artworks exhibit outside the gallery

The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and Zuni, and is jointly organised by the HKHM and Zuni. Designer Freeman Lau, Zuni’s Co-Artistic Director cum Executive Director Mathias Woo and Zuni’s International Exchange Director, Wong Yue-wai, served as the guest curators of the exhibition.

The exhibition will run from November 17 until March 14 next year at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin). For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit
www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid270.html