Asia Art Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 16 Week of 26 May 2025
(1) This robotic arm is creating traditional Chinese ink paintings
Victor Wong, a Hong Kong-based artist, has created AI Gemini, the world’s first artificial intelligence ink artist, which produces traditional Chinese landscape paintings by combining historical techniques with modern technology.
(2) Hong Kong ‘Super Fan’ from Japan weaves art in city’s vivid colours
Katsumi Takeoka, a Japanese embroidery artist in Osaka, expresses her admiration for Hong Kong through vibrant works featuring themes like pandas and dim sum.
(3) New England Hong Kong Festival returns to Somerville
The second annual New England Hong Kong Festival will be held on 31 May 2025 at Seven Hills Park in Somerville, celebrating Hong Kong culture with over 30 local vendors, live performances, and family-friendly activities.
(4) Hong Kong Palace Museum holds first fully digital show on Forbidden City
The Hong Kong Palace Museum has launched its first fully digital exhibition, “The Ways in Patterns,” featuring interactive displays of motifs from the Forbidden City.
(1) This robotic arm is creating traditional Chinese ink paintings
(Photo Credit: Victor Wong/ CNN)
Victor Wong, a Hong Kong-based artist with a background in electrical engineering, sought to innovate beyond this trend. He developed AI Gemini, an AI-driven robot that creates traditional Chinese landscape paintings, positioning it as the world’s first artificial intelligence ink artist. This creation uses a robotic arm and algorithms to produce unique artworks on Xuan paper, reflecting both technological advancement and traditional artistry.
Wong’s approach to using AI combines historical techniques with modern capabilities. His paintings draw inspiration from various data sets, including NASA’s lunar maps and stock market fluctuations, allowing him to create landscapes that are both contemporary and rooted in Chinese culture. Wong emphasises that his work is original, as he programmes the AI to mimic traditional methods rather than replicate existing artworks, challenging the notion that AI-generated art lacks authenticity.
Wong believes that the use of AI in art is a natural progression, despite some public resistance to its acceptance, particularly in a culturally rich city like Hong Kong. Wong asserts that embracing AI is essential for the future of artistic expression, stating, “You cannot escape AI.”
News Source: https://edition.cnn.com/style/victor-wong-ai-ink-painting-hong-kong-hnk-spc-intl
(2) Hong Kong ‘Super Fan’ from Japan weaves art in city’s vivid colours
(Photo Credit: Mainichi Japan)
Katsumi Takeoka, a Japanese embroidery artist based in Osaka, showcases her love for Hong Kong through her vibrant works featuring themes like pandas and “yum cha” dim sum. Certified as a “Hong Kong Super Fan” by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in 2021, Takeoka’s piece “Panda Paradise” depicts adorable pandas gathered around a table, alongside motifs of roasted ducks, oyster sauce bottles, and “bo lo yau” buns, all reflecting daily life in Hong Kong.
Using a technique called “punch needle,” Takeoka creates three-dimensional, fluffy embroidery with thick yarn instead of traditional thread. She enhances her pieces with beads and sequins to amplify their “kawaii” (cute) appeal. Takeoka attributes the lively colours of Hong Kong’s urban landscape to traditional feng shui practices, noting that hues like red and gold symbolise health and prosperity, contributing to the city’s energetic atmosphere.
The artworks on display include genres such as mountain-and-water and flower-and-bird, reflecting a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The US artists’ contributions feature prints, sculptures, and oil paintings, demonstrating their explorations of form and materials within the context of traditional Chinese art.
News Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250524/p2a/00m/0et/006000c
(3) New England Hong Kong Festival returns to Somerville
(Photo Credit: The Sommerville Times)
On Saturday, 31 May 2025, the second annual New England Hong Kong Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Seven Hills Park in Somerville, celebrating the vibrant culture, food, and creativity of Hongkongers in the region. The event is free and open to everyone, with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, 1 June 2025.
This year’s festival features over 30 local vendors, artists, and community groups offering food, gifts, and interactive activities. Attendees can enjoy more than 15 live performances, including bands, martial artists, and cultural acts, along with free games, family-friendly activities, and unique photo opportunities inspired by iconic Hong Kong streets.
Hosted by the New England Hong Kong Festival Planning Team and co-hosted by the City of Somerville and the Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs, the festival is organised by diasporic Hongkongers from Greater Boston dedicated to community-building and cultural storytelling.
News Source: https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/140331
(4) Hong Kong Palace Museum holds first fully digital show on Forbidden City
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
The Hong Kong Palace Museum has launched its first fully digital exhibition, titled “The Ways in Patterns: An Immersive Digital Exhibition from the Palace Museum.” This innovative show features reimagined displays from its sister site in Beijing, highlighting iconic symbols like dragons and phoenixes through interactive visual effects. The exhibition aims to showcase the intricate motifs and designs from the Forbidden City’s architecture and textiles, contrasting with traditional presentations of historical artefacts.
Spanning seven themed spaces, the exhibition is equipped with nearly 100 projectors that create dynamic projections, immersing visitors in the experience. Unique features include patterns derived from the Forbidden City’s architectural elements and exquisite embroidery from royal costumes. A standout highlight is the digital representation of a cat named “Long Legs,” inspired by a real cat cared for by the Beijing museum staff.
The exhibition runs until 13 October 2025 and has received positive feedback from attendees, particularly students who found it both engaging and educational. Despite the challenges of adapting the exhibition for the smaller space in Hong Kong, the team has successfully created an exciting environment that promotes a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture and history.
