M+ has awarded the Sigg Prize 2025 to artists Heidi Lau and Wong Ping, marking the first time since the prize’s inception in 2018 that two winners have been recognized in the same year.
While Lau and Wong present works that contrast sharply in artistic approach, medium, and material, the jury concluded that both artists offer “equally profound reflections on contemporary life,” leading to the decision to name joint winners.
The winning works are currently on view in the Sigg Prize exhibition at M+, showcasing the breadth and diversity of the artists’ practices.
Lau presents Pavilion Procession (2025), a large-scale installation of ceramic sculptures featuring a programmed kinetic spider made of ceramic and mechanical components.
Drawing inspiration from ancient mythologies in Shanhaijing as well as her personal experience of grief, Lau uses spatial composition to transform private mourning into a collective, shared experience.
Wong, meanwhile, presents Debts in the Wind (2025), a video installation housed within a playful mini-theater decorated with artificial turf, hairy golf balls, and a flagpole. Through his signature animated language and sharp humor, Wong invites audiences to navigate layered narratives and reflect on contemporary realities.
The jury praised Lau’s work for its “visceral energy” and “intricate references to mythology and hybridity,” noting that her use of clay functions as a powerful metaphor for mourning. The installation was described as “emotionally resonant and conceptually rigorous.”
For Wong’s work, the jury highlighted his creation of a “whimsical mise en scène” that merges fantastical elements with everyday situations. They noted that his “sophisticated blend of mesmerizing visuals and dark humor” enables a keen observation of ordinary life.
Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director of M+ and chairperson of the Sigg Prize, said the international jury was deeply impressed by the finalists.
“Heidi Lau and Wong Ping, in their own compelling ways, demonstrate bold possibilities for expression through their distinctive use of medium and mature artistic languages, offering profound insights into the complexities of our shared experience,” she said.
Both artists expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as affirmation of their individual artistic paths.
“Receiving this recognition for a predominantly ceramic piece feels surreal, especially since the medium is often seen as secondary in contemporary art. This experience affirms my early conviction to devote my practice to this medium, which I believe has the power to create form and meaning out of the unknowable,” Lau said.
Wong described the award as a stabilizing force in his career. “Making art often means facing unease, uncertainty, and ambiguity. Winning the Sigg Prize feels like a soothing remedy,” he said.
The Sigg Prize carries a total cash award of HK$1 million. As joint winners, Lau and Wong will each receive HK$300,000, while the remaining shortlisted artists will each be awarded HK$100,000.
