Craftsmanship in AI era: HK emerging artists showcase power of the handmade

Hong Kong

2026.02.06 20:30

Officiating Guests at the "Hong Kong Emerging Artists Exhibition" Phase 4 Opening Ceremony. (Provided by interviewee)

In an age of digital replication, five Hong Kong emerging artists are asserting the enduring value of human touch and traditional technique. The fourth phase of the "Hong Kong Emerging Artists Exhibition," titled Craftsmanship: A Remedy for the Fleeting Nature in the AI Era, opened today (Feb. 6) at the Jao Tsung-I Academy.

"Hong Kong Emerging Artists Exhibition" Phase 4 takes place at Hall 3, The Gallery, Jao Tsung-I Academy. (Provided by interviewee)

Co-organised by the Jao Tsung-I Academy and the Sun Museum with sponsorship from the Simon Suen Foundation, the exhibition presents recent works by Wong Siu Chuen (Victor), Yeung Tsz King (Beavis), Yeung Nga Fei (Alice), Chung Chun Kau (Edison), and Hon Ka Yi (Karry). The showcase will run from Feb. 7 to Aug. 9, 2026.

Five artists shared their creative stories with Director of Sun Museum, Dr. Lesley Lau, at the artists' sharing session of "Hong Kong Emerging Artists Exhibition" Phase 4. (Provided by interviewee)

The initiative, launched in 2024, provides a vital platform for local emerging talents, with 21 artists supported to date. This edition highlights a diverse range of media—ceramics, metalwork, mineral pigment painting, and fibre art—demonstrating the vibrancy of the city's contemporary art scene.

The artists' works collectively question the disposable nature of digital culture. Victor Wong transforms brass sheets into delicate animal sculptures using traditional sawing and folding, consciously avoiding digital modelling. Beavis Yeung reinvents ceramic wheel-throwing with modern, asymmetrical forms, while Alice Yeung applies ancient mineral pigments to depict serene, everyday moments.

Edison Chung combines ceramic art with tattoo symbolism to explore social perception and prejudice. Karry Hon uses fibre art to capture subtle interactions between the body and objects, inviting a re-examination of the ordinary.

"These artists have broken down the barriers between 'craft' and 'fine art," the exhibition narrative notes. Their materials become "vehicles for thought," proving traditional techniques retain powerful narrative force today.

Dr. Lesley Lau, Director of Sun Museum, praised the participants' courage: "This exhibition... showcases the unbound creativity and courage of young artists in Hong Kong as they deconstruct materials and challenge traditions."