On September 25, a large-scale art exhibition titled "Stay Connected: Art and China Since 2008 presents twenty-first century art"—the first chapter "Staying Online: Wandering in the Cloud," co-sponsored by the Octone Foundation and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, held a thank-you banquet at Tai Kwun. The event was attended by many distinguished guests, including Mr. Ho Fan, Chairman of the Octone Foundation; Mr. Bernard Chan, Chairman of Tai Kwun Cultural and Arts Company Limited, Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBS), Justice of the Peace (JP); Mr. Tobias Berger, Art Director of Tai Kwun; and exhibition curators Dr. Pi Li and Ms. Guo Ying, who together witnessed this significant art event exploring the cultural evolution in the digital age.
Mr. Ho Fan, Chairman of the Octone Foundation, stated in his speech at the banquet, "We firmly believe that art not only mirrors the times but also inspires thought and facilitates dialogue. By collaborating with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Tai Kwun to support this forward-looking exhibition, we aim to present the unique experiences and creativity of Chinese society under the global digital wave through the lens of art."
Mr. Bernard Chan, Chairman of Tai Kwun Cultural and Arts Company Limited, Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBS), Justice of the Peace (JP), remarked that as a cultural and arts platform, Tai Kwun has always been committed to promoting exhibitions with an international outlook and local care. The "Staying Online" exhibition series not only showcases the diverse practices of contemporary art but also resonates with the digital realities we live in, encouraging the public to actively participate in imagining and constructing the future society.
"Stay Connected: Navigating the Cloud" the first chapter of the panoramic exhibition "Stay Connected: Art and China Since 2008 presents twenty-first century art" (running from September 26, 2025, to January 4, 2026), features over 35 art groups and approximately 50 works. It delves deep into how the Internet, social media platforms, and digital technology have comprehensively permeated and reshaped China's daily life, cultural narratives, and global connections since 2008. The exhibition unfolds through eight thematic units, covering topics such as "Information Bubbles," "Artificial Intelligence," "The Construction of Online and Offline Communities," and "The Impact of Digital Technology on the Nature of Human Labor," guiding the audience to reflect on how to transcend boundaries and build connections in a world of digital interweaving, continuously "staying online."
The second chapter of the exhibition, "Stay Connected: Supplying the Globe" will follow from February 27 to May 31, 2026, focusing on art practices in the context of the manufacturing supply chain and global capital flow, further expanding the understanding of the interactive relationships between 21st-century China and the world. "Staying Online: Wandering in the Cloud" is now open to the public at Tai Kwun and will run until 2025. The public is warmly welcomed to visit and engage in this profound dialogue that blends technology, society, and art.