From childhood to adulthood, we always hear one or two legends about monsters. Which ones do you know? Starting from March, art activities have been continuous, and a group of monsters also seized the opportunity. In April, they quietly sneaked into and settled in the Hong Kong Arts Center!
This is an interactive art event organized by the Hong Kong Arts Centre in collaboration with the Japan Foundation, the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, and media partners Dian Li and Virtual Words. The event, themed around yokai, includes a touring exhibition “Yokai Parade,” the launch of the book “Hong Kong Ghost Stories,” film screenings, and a series of yokai workshops, inviting everyone to delve into the mysterious and fascinating world of the supernatural, dancing together with yokai culture!
This exhibition, curated by Mr. Gouichi Yumoto, the honorary director of the Japanese Yokai Museum (Museum of Yokai Monsters), showcases the collection from the Yokai Museum, revealing the evolution of yokai culture from the Edo period to the present day. It witnesses the transformation of yokai from terrifying figures to charming, friendly beings, making ghost stories and mysterious legends once again a celebratory element in Japanese summer traditions. Through a series of two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and multimedia “yokai” objects, viewers can catch a glimpse of the various forms of yokai, while exploring the unexpected connections between yokai and traditional Japanese games. Furthermore, they can further appreciate the diversity and creativity of yokai artworks, and experience their integration into various aspects of daily life.
“Yokai Parade”
Organized by the Japan Foundation, co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre and the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, the latest touring exhibition “Yokai Parade” will bring the public on a mysterious journey to explore Japanese yokai and their culture. From traditional woodblock prints and brocade paintings to everyday toys, movies, and other popular culture, delve into the fascinating world of yokai and encounter the supernatural imagination of ancient Japan.
This exhibition is curated by Professor Gouichi Yumoto, the honorary director of the Japanese Yokai Museum (Museum of Yokai Monsters), showcasing the collection from the Japanese Yokai Museum. It reveals the evolution of yokai culture from the Edo period to the present day, witnessing how yokai have transformed from terrifying figures to charming, friendly beings, making ghost stories and mysterious legends once again a part of Japan’s summer traditions.
Further Reading:
- Rediscovering Geometric Abstract Art! Interview with Chinese Artist Huo Gang
- Life is like architecture! Hong Kong Bank of China Tower designer, Chinese-American architectural giant Ieoh Ming Pei’s first large-scale retrospective exhibition opens at M+ in June!
- Unraveling the Mystery of Planet Walala! Exclusive Interview with French Artist Camille Walala
Pork Belly Stickers Released for “Hong Kong Ghost Stories” New Book
Local Hong Kong art group “Pork Nest Stickers” is inspired by Japan’s Hyakki Yagyō, collecting and documenting local folk ghost stories to explore the hundred years of demons and monsters. Local ghosts are found all over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, but they appear in cute forms, no longer terrifying. Pork Nest Stickers use a light-hearted style to design different ghost characters, breaking away from the traditional eerie image; using the medium of “food play stickers,” they interpret various ghostly tales from Hong Kong’s history, hoping to preserve folk history through artistic creation.
Hong Kong Arts Centre Late Night Series 2024
The Hong Kong Arts Centre Late Night Series 2024 – Art X will be held on April 13th, in conjunction with the exhibition “Yokai Parade” at Pak Sheung Chuen Gallery, with yokai as the theme, bringing a series of evening art experience activities to the public, allowing everyone to understand yokai culture from multiple perspectives. There will be two screenings of the film “Yokai City,” post-screening discussions, script killing games, and three workshops, including the Yokai Mini Lantern Workshop, Yokai Wagashi Workshop, and Illuminated Yokai Neon Light Workshop. For the “Yokai Mini Lantern Workshop,” participants will be guided to use 3D drawing pens to create yokai lanterns; for “Yokai Wagashi: Take Me Home,” using traditional Japanese craftsmanship and tools, participants will make three different flavors of yokai wagashi together; for the “Illuminated Yokai Neon Light Workshop,” participants will work together to create neon light elements with yokai patterns, creating a vivid and stunning “little yokai”; for the “Script Killing Game: Ninety-Nine Gods,” a brand new script killing game based on yokai themes will immerse you in an interactive experience! There will also be an exclusive new “Yokai” corner, featuring a wide range of Hong Kong and Japanese yokai-themed stationery, decorations, board games, and more at the Art Shop, which is not to be missed!
From traditional woodblock prints and embroidery to everyday toys, movies, and other popular culture, delve into the fascinating world of yokai, where ancient Japanese supernatural imagination meets. The Hong Kong Arts Centre invites everyone to uncover the eternal charm of yokai culture, participate in this mysterious journey that transcends generations and borders, and immerse themselves in the mysteries of Japan’s supernatural heritage.
Ghost stories can bring back many interesting memories, so don’t miss this rare opportunity whether you are a fan of ghosts or Japanese culture!
“Yokai Parade”
Date: April 5, 2024 to May 5, 2024
Location: Pao Galleries, 4th-5th Floor, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Free Admission
