25 August 2020

Following the successful launch of the Exhibition Glimpses Part 1 to celebrate the establishment of the Department of Art and Design at HSUHK on 16 July 2020, Part 2 of the exhibition was officiated online by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Kam-sing Wong, GBS, JP on 17 August 2020, to coincide with the start of the new academic year and the new Department of Art and Design. President Simon Ho and Professor Desmond Hui, the Founding Head of the Department of Art and Design and the artist of the exhibition, delivered speeches in the event.

President Ho gave his welcome remarks affirming the objectives of establishing the Department of Art and Design and the programme at HSUHK. Citing the applications of technology in hosting the online exhibition as well as the opening, he affirmed the Art Tech development direction advocated by Our Hong Kong Foundation. In addition to expounding on the University’s continuous efforts in building up both the academic and infrastructural strengths in relation to creative arts and innovative studies, President Ho also called on the support from the Environment Bureau for the University’s future development of programmes in relation to the environment.

Professor Desmond Hui then introduced the exhibition contents, highlighting the relationship between landscape paintings and the environment. The artwork showed the audience the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Jeju and Okinawa, the Refuse Incineration Park in Beitou of Taipei, the water quality and landscape of Puli near Taichung, the windcatchers in the desert climate of Yazd in Iran, the grain and food storage of Spanish horreos in Pontevedra, and the Victoria Harbour, Tathong Channel and Happy Valley in Hong Kong. He pointed out that these landscapes were the testimonies of human inhabitation in the environment, and art was a form to embody future hope, which was the goal of establishing the Department of Art and Design.

Mr Kam-sing Wong mentioned ‘3Cs’ in his speech: Congratulations – offering his cheers to the exhibition and the new department. Creativity – advocating the importance of linking art and design with humanity and environmental perspective, and addressing the need of creativity in the new era of challenges with emerging technologies and environmental issues. Collaboration – collaborations between the Government and HSUHK in art, architecture, design and construction promoting biodiversity and environmental protection and caring about youth development.

After the speeches by Mr Wong and President Ho, Professor Hui introduced the new staff members of the Department of Art and Design, followed by an interaction with online guests including Professor KK Tam, Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and Professor Gilbert Fong, Dean of Translation and Foreign Languages. Ms Sarena Law, University Librarian, wrapped up the meeting with a vote of thanks.