Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition First Stop in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Officially Opened

“Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition (the Roving Architecture Exhibition) is organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation (HKIABF) in partnership with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Lead Sponsor. The Roving Architecture Exhibition has three stops staging in three different cities, including the Kuala Lumpur Exhibition which is sponsored by Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Jakarta and with Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) as the supporting organisation, and the Nanjing Exhibition which is co-organised by Jiangsu Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce.

The Kuala Lumpur Exhibition, which is the first stop of the Roving Architecture Exhibition, is held from 22 July to 7 August 2023, at the renowned heritage building Rumah Tangsi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

To commemorate the exhibition, the organiser held an opening ceremony at the Rumah Tangsi on 22 July. Mr. Lee Sheung Yuen, Director-General of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Jakarta, graced the ceremony with his presence as the Guest of Honour. He and Mr. Lin, Minister Counsellor of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia, Ar Benny Chan, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ar Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Chairperson of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Ar Saifuddin Ahmad, President-elect of Architects Regional Council Asia, Ar Abu Zarim bin Abu Bakar, President of Malaysian Institute of Architects, Ar Pei Ing, Former Secretary General of International Union of Architects, Ar Thomas Cheung, Honorary Secretary of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ar Allen Poon, Vice-Chairperson of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Ar Stephen Ho, Co-chairman of Organising Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Kentis BEH, Organising Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Helen Leung, Deputy Chairman of Steering Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Ridha Razak, Director of Rumah Tangsi cum Treasurer of Malaysian Institute of Architects and the curatorial team officially unveiled the Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition altogether.

Curated by Ar Professor Paul Chu, Ar Jacky Cheung and Mr. Kan Chan (the Curatorial Team), “Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between” will feature in the first stop in Kuala Lumpur the 16 exhibits created by different professional groups and architects from Hong Kong. To echo with the theme of the exhibition series, the curatorial team has paired up the exhibits for display in different zones with the aim to lay out the sharp contrast of the exhibition experience. Interactive display frame is specially designed and made for each set of the exhibits to co-create more collaborations among the exhibits while allowing visitors to explore the exhibition with invisible boundaries.

Ar Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Chairperson of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Organiser of the Roving Architecture Exhibition, said, “We are delighted to organise the Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition to feature our architects and their distinctive creations beyond Hong Kong. I would like to express my appreciations to the curatorial team and all exhibitors for their valuable exploration and imagination in the exhibition, bringing new impacts to Hong Kong architecture and urban development.”

Ar Benny Chan, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Partner of the Roving Architecture Exhibition, said that “This exhibition series brings together Hong Kong architects from different generations, not only providing a platform for deepening the industry exchange, but also a golden opportunity to show to different regions the uniqueness of Hong Kong architecture in the changes of times.”

The curatorial team adopted the “in-between” as the keyword of the exhibition theme and invited exhibitors from different generations to narrate the connection between architecture and urban space from the perspective of Hong Kong architects, and to showcase Hong Kong's distinctive architectural and urban conditions through mixed presentation channels such as metaverse technology, multimedia player, interactive installation and visual creativity.

According to the curatorial team, “Over the last 25 years, Hong Kong’s urban development model under the support of infrastructural expansion and innovations has revealed the ‘in-between’ conditions at different levels. The team hopes to illustrate that the unique urban landscape development of Hong Kong is combining various ‘in-between’ elements, contrasting while integrating, consistent yet everchanging. Meanwhile, it allows experts and the public to reflect on the development direction of Hong Kong in order to meet the future challenges in spatial planning.”

Following the Kuala Lumpur Exhibition, the Roving Architecture Exhibition will move to Nanjing in October to November for the second stop, and then return to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024 with a response exhibition respectively.

Guest of Honour Mr. Lee Sheung Yuen, Director-General of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Jakarta, Mr. Lin, Minister Counsellor of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia, Ar Benny Chan, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ar Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Chairperson of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Ar Saifuddin Ahmad, President-elect of Architects Regional Council Asia, Ar Abu Zarim bin Abu Bakar, President of Malaysian Institute of Architects, Ar Pei Ing, Former Secretary General of International Union of Architects, Ar Thomas Cheung, Honorary Secretary of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Ar Allen Poon, Vice-Chairperson of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Ar Stephen Ho, Co-chairman of Organising Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Kentis BEH, Organising Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Helen Leung, Deputy Chairman of Steering Committee for the HKIA Roving Architecture Exhibition, Ar Ridha Razak, Director of Rumah Tangsi cum Treasurer of Malaysian Institute of Architects and the curatorial team officiated at the opening ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Exhibition, to officially kick-off the “Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition. The Kuala Lumpur Exhibition is open to the public from 22 July to 7 August 2023, with the next stop in Nanjing from 21 October to 7 November 2023, and the response exhibition returning to Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2024 respectively.

From left to right: Ar Jacky Cheung, Ar Professor Paul Chu, Ar Kentis BEH, Ar Thomas Cheung, Ar Pei Ing, Ar Abu Zarim bin Abu Bakar, Ar Benny Chan, Mr. Lee Sheung Yuen, Mr. Lin, Ar Julia Lau, JP, OSTJ, Ar Saifuddin Ahmad, Ar Ridha Razak, Ar Allen Poon, Ar Stephen Ho, Ar Helen Leung and Mr. Kan Chan.

Guest of Honour Mr. Lee Sheung Yuen, Director-General of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Jakarta, delivered the opening remarks at the opening ceremony.

The curatorial team (from left to right) formed by Ar Professor Paul Chu, Mr. Kan Chan and Ar Jacky Cheung of the “Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition.

The curatorial team and the exhibitors held a preview tour for the attending guests of the opening ceremony to introduce the features and design concepts of the exhibition. The guests were deeply impressed by the “in-between” elements that are perfectly echoed with the theme “Harmony in Diversity”.

The “Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between” Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong Roving Architecture Exhibition showcases 16 sets of exhibits in pairs at different areas inside the exhibition venue. The exhibition presents Hong Kong's distinctive architectural and urban conditions through mixed channels such as metaverse technology, multimedia player, interactive installation and visual creativity.

More information is available on the official website and social media platforms.

“Harmony in Diversity-Connecting the Metropolis by In-Between”
Kuala Lumpur-Nanjing-Hong Kong
Roving Architecture Exhibition

NanJing

Details to be announced on official website and social media