From experimental video art to horror-inspired installations, these five Hong Kong artists are making waves at this year’s Art Central.

Art Central turns 10 this year and is back at Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront from 26–30 March. Over the past decade, it has become a key event in Hong Kong Art Week, showcasing talent from Asia and beyond. Known for championing emerging artists alongside established names, the fair also features installations, performances, video art, talks, and workshops. Here are five Hong Kong artists worth looking out for in 2025:

1. Nadim Abbas

Nadim Abbas presents "A Brazen Rift (After Branzi)", a large-scale commissioned installation. Abbas is known for questioning the dominance of images in modern life. This work reimagines modular forms and Branzi’s two-dimensional perspective, turning them into intricate, life-like structures.

Set within the fair’s busy environment, the installation mirrors the movement of city crowds and visitors. It explores memory and imagery, blurring the boundaries between objects and their reflections.

2. May Fung

May Fung has been a leading figure in Hong Kong’s experimental film and video art since the 1970s. She co-founded the Phoenix Cine Club, an underground film group, and Videotage, Asia’s first new media art collective. Fung also ran the independent art space Ateh.

Her works often focus on identity, particularly women’s roles in patriarchal societies, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the effects of socio-political change. Using video’s fluid nature, Fung captures the ambiguities of contemporary life. Some of her works are now part of the M+ permanent collection.

3. Kwan Sheung Chi

Kwan Sheung Chi’s 2015 video "Little Toe (or "Hmm, you can have what’s left of me.")" is on show in the "Video Art" section. The video appears to show a toe being cut off, but it’s later revealed to be a photo of a foot. The work highlights the physicality of the human body and its material nature.

Originally shown in Taipei, the piece reflects on themes of loss and memory, accompanied by text about a character named K. It explores fragility and the emotional residue of departure.

4. Dickson Yewn

Dickson Yewn is a Hong Kong-born artist known for jewellery design and photography. His work is inspired by Chinese history and culture, blending traditional and contemporary techniques.

Yewn’s photography, shown at "SEN Wun Man Art Space", draws from Chinese ink painting and 19th-century platinum printing. Recently, he has used smartphones to replicate these effects. His black-and-white photos focus on landscapes and historic sites, creating an aesthetic reminiscent of fine ink art.

5. IV Chan

IV Chan’s new work at Art Central explores horror film tropes, particularly how they depict the female body. Taking inspiration from the exaggerated style of B-movies, especially horror comedies, Chan delves into their absurd and grotesque traits.

Her work looks at the symbolism of vampires and mothers in Chinese cinema, blending queer themes with horror traditions. Chan’s pieces combine camp humour with sharp commentary on identity and cultural archetypes.

Art Central 2025
Time: March 26-30, 2025  
Venue: Central Harbourfront  
https://artcentralhongkong.com/