In collaboration with London-based art advisory A Space for Art, The Hari Hong Kong announced at a special award ceremony on March 13 that Chan Ka Kiu won the coveted first prize for her video installation “Tickle Tickle”. She received a HK$100,000 cash award generously donated by Dr. Aron Harilela, CEO and chairman of Harilela Hotels Limited and founder of The Hari Hong Kong and its sister property The Hari London.

The first runner-up prize went to Nicole Wong for her floor-to-ceiling suncatcher curtain called “The Definition of Rain”. Wu Jiaru was named the second runner-up for her oil on linen painting series “spillover i & ii”. The runners-up were each awarded a luxurious two-day, one-night Corner Room Package at The Hari Hong Kong, inclusive of daily breakfast and a dining experience for two at authentic Italian restaurant Lucciola or modern Japanese restaurant Zoku.

Almost 600 Hong Kong-based self-taught artists and recent art graduates within the first 10 years of their art career applied for the second annual art prize, more than double the number of applicants for the inaugural 2023 art prize. In addition to the winners, other finalists were APO, YY Chan, Dony Cheng Hung, Itit Cheung (Weera it Ittiteerarak), Gianluca Crudele, Ho Hou Wun, Inkgo Lam, Vincent Lee, Jeremy Leung, Livy Leung Hoi Nga, Edwin Lo, Karen Mai, Geoffrey Palmer, Amy Tang, Gavin Tu, and Angela Yuen Ka Yee.

The prize’s esteemed judging panel featured Dr. Harilela, A Space For Art’s founder and director Charlie Smedley, TASCHEN’s Asia retail director Frankie Ho, Ben Brown Fine Arts’ managing director Amanda Hon and independent curator Anqi Li.

To a backdrop of selected artworks created by the art prize’s finalists at the ceremony at The Hari Hong Kong yesterday, Dr. Harilela paid homage to Hong Kong’s remarkable emerging art scene and praised the “incredible breadth and depth” of the artists’ submissions.

“The judging panel was wowed by Chan Ka Kiu’s ‘Tickle Tickle’, featuring a clever script authored by the artist and a moving image collage of footage from pop culture, home pet videos, and AI-generated content,” Dr Harilela said. “Characterised with a sense of humour that won us over, this work imaginatively explores the concept of dogs possessing hands, provoking thought on the nature of both. Chan playfully juxtaposes seemingly unrelated scenarios from daily life, reenacting the intangible and bizarre details that often go unnoticed.”

“Nicole Wong’s 10.5 square-metre ‘The Definition of Rain’ is stunning, resembling a state where time stands still, and capturing the frozen scene of falling rain. Translating the dictionary entry of “rain” into binary code, opalite and glass beads represent 1s and 0s of the coding language, strung together into 105 strings of the suncatcher curtain,” he added.

“Wu Jiaru’s ‘spillover i & ii’ painting series is striking, merging abstract and figurative elements and inviting viewers to contemplate the subtle expressions of violence in our world.”

In addition to “spillover i & ii”, other selected artworks on display at The Hari Hong Kong until the end of May this year include finalist Vincent Lee’s sculpture made out of disposable cutlery called “Hammerhead Shark”, Chan Ka Kiu’s digital print on a lightbox fronted by venetian blinds named “After” and Ho Hou Wan’s four-piece sculpture “Above the Granite”.  Amy Tang’s painting “The Form of Territory: Spread” and Nicole Wang’s installation “VIP” will also be showcased.

Offering the likes of The Hari Art Prize and The Hari Chronicles, an ongoing series of conversations about art, design, culture and Hong Kong, The Hari Hong Kong makes for a gateway to art and culture. The art hotel is adorned with an exceptional rota of artwork curated by A Space for Art.

For more details on The Hari Hong Kong Art Prize, please visit www.thehari.com/hong-kong/the-hari-art-prize/ where viewers will soon have the chance to delve into the creative process behind each winning artwork.

About The Hari Hong Kong
Opened in December 2020, The Hari Hong Kong is the vision of Dr. Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd, and the second hotel to open under the ‘The Hari’ brand. The first hotel, The Hari London opened in August 2016. The Harilela Group was established in 1959 and is still wholly owned by the Harilela family. The Harilela Group is the parent company of Harilela Hotels which owns 15 properties across Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, and the US.

A Space For Art
For over ten years, A Space for Art has been at the forefront of connecting fine art with exceptional spaces in the UK and globally; curating permanent and rotational art exhibitions that inspire and engage audiences. A Space for Art collaborates with some of the most exciting artists and galleries working today. A Space for Art provides exhibition spaces in prominent and prestigious locations across the globe to promote art, support artists, introduce new audiences and enhance brand engagement.

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