vA! Residency - Reimagining the Ordinary
vA! is an art space fitted with well-equipped studios and an exhibition gallery for trained artists as well as amateur enthusiasts engaging in artistic creation, exhibitions and various art activities. vA! organises talks, workshops and one-year professional art courses, providing opportunities for the public to experience art with their hands and to talk about art. vA! is also devoted to nurturing art talents by inviting emerging artists to conduct cross-disciplinary art experiments, exploring the possibilities of applying technology and knowledge from other disciplines in the creation of art and identifying new directions in projects ranging from digital creation to site-specific and multimedia installations. In 2024, artists Nutz LUK Mei-fei was invited to have a residency at vA!, create commissioned artworks, conduct public exchange activities and showcase the outcomes of her residency and creations to the public by organising an on-site exhibition.
Nutz observes and responds to life through ceramics. Her art practice begins with various objects we use every day, integrating the functional and artistic expression aspects of ceramics. By delving into life through reshaping these items, she connects the traces of life left behind in their historical and cultural contexts with her own experiences and those of the viewer, piecing together different interpretations of life across various contexts.
In this project, Nutz draws inspiration from the century-old building of vA!, which was formerly Cassels Block, married quarters for British military officers, using ceramics to transform a series of everyday objects representing the lifestyle of the last century. By bringing these reimagined objects back into this former living space, she invites viewers to explore their past and present, to read and reimagine them, and to envision different forms of life.
Artist: LUK Mei-fei, Nutz
Exhibition Period: 6.11.2024 – 7.7.2025
Venue: Public area on the 5/F – 3/F of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (vA!)
Free Admission
Artist Sharing
Date: 4.1.2025 (Sat)
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Venue: 4/F, Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road, Central
Conducted in Cantonese; Free Admission
Quotas: 70 (Quotas tags will be distributed on-site starting from 2:30pm, first come, first served)
The sharing session was divided into two parts: in the first part, Nutz invited the founders of a vintage shop, Wing FUNG and Sylvia LAI, who are also the former owners of the vintage chandelier and the vintage wall lamp featured in the exhibition. They shared the stories behind these vintage lights, discussing the joy of collecting and appreciating the beauty of such objects. In the second part, Nutz engaged in a conversation with her teammates Hansel LI and Angela CHEUNG about the pivotal moments of their residency, including the challenges of adjusting to a new studio space and working with delicate ceramic material. They also discussed how their artistic concepts and presentations evolved during time at vA!. Nutz guided the audience through the former living space, showcasing each artwork she has redesigned or moulded from the old objects she collected. She shared her insights into ceramic craftsmanship, history and culture, as well as her observations of everyday life that served as the foundation for her artistic concept. Additionally, participants visited Nutz's creative space at vA! to gain a deeper understanding the craftsmanship involved in of her works.
Nutz observes and responds to life through ceramics. Her art practice begins with various objects we use every day, integrating the functional and artistic expression aspects of ceramics. By delving into life through reshaping these items, she connects the traces of life left behind in their historical and cultural contexts with her own experiences and those of the viewer, piecing together different interpretations of life across various contexts.
In this project, Nutz draws inspiration from the century-old building of vA!, which was formerly Cassels Block, married quarters for British military officers, using ceramics to transform a series of everyday objects representing the lifestyle of the last century. By bringing these reimagined objects back into this former living space, she invites viewers to explore their past and present, to read and reimagine them, and to envision different forms of life.
Artist: LUK Mei-fei, Nutz
Exhibition Period: 6.11.2024 – 7.7.2025
Venue: Public area on the 5/F – 3/F of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (vA!)
Free Admission
Artist Sharing
Date: 4.1.2025 (Sat)
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Venue: 4/F, Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road, Central
Conducted in Cantonese; Free Admission
Quotas: 70 (Quotas tags will be distributed on-site starting from 2:30pm, first come, first served)
The sharing session was divided into two parts: in the first part, Nutz invited the founders of a vintage shop, Wing FUNG and Sylvia LAI, who are also the former owners of the vintage chandelier and the vintage wall lamp featured in the exhibition. They shared the stories behind these vintage lights, discussing the joy of collecting and appreciating the beauty of such objects. In the second part, Nutz engaged in a conversation with her teammates Hansel LI and Angela CHEUNG about the pivotal moments of their residency, including the challenges of adjusting to a new studio space and working with delicate ceramic material. They also discussed how their artistic concepts and presentations evolved during time at vA!. Nutz guided the audience through the former living space, showcasing each artwork she has redesigned or moulded from the old objects she collected. She shared her insights into ceramic craftsmanship, history and culture, as well as her observations of everyday life that served as the foundation for her artistic concept. Additionally, participants visited Nutz's creative space at vA! to gain a deeper understanding the craftsmanship involved in of her works.