Unique moments, lasting impressions

Disu Dang

Art isn't just about creation -- it's also about collecting, preserving and connecting with stories told through different mediums. Collect Hong Kong 2025 brings together works from both emerging and established local artists, offering a rare opportunity for audiences to discover, appreciate, and even own a piece of Hong Kong's thriving art scene.

Previously known as The Collectible Art Fair in 2023, the biennial event -- organized by the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) -- features around 350 artworks carefully selected by its jury panel. This year, it has expanded to 301 artists, adding nearly 100 more shortlisted artists compared to its previous edition.

"Collect Hong Kong is unique in its approach in showcasing work from art students, self-taught artists, emerging talent, all the way to museum collected works by local Masters -- nowhere can you find this range of art that is in conversation with each other," said Christina Brandt Jensen, curator of the show.

Supported by Hong Kong Art School (HKAS) and other invited art organizations, the fair offers a diverse display of Hong Kong's artistic landscape.

"In addition to the affordable and collectible range on offer, I have also given space to the experimental and to the less commercial -- such as multimedia works, installations, moving image and interactive projects," Jensen added.

"If people want to feel where art in Hong Kong is right now, they will get a very good sense if they visit Collect Hong Kong."

For Rebecca Ip, executive director of the HKAC, the fair is about creating an accessible and open platform that nurtures local artists, with artwork prices ranging from HK$500 to HK$360,000.

HKAS, as a division of HKAC, has long been dedicated to nurturing local talent, offering studio-based, hands-on learning experiences to students of all ages and backgrounds.

Ip said: "We have students who are 18 years old as well as mature students, some in their 60s or 70s. It's great because it shows that people can learn art at any stage in life."

Among the artists featured in Collect Hong Kong 2025 is Maria Cheung Ying-may, who began her journey in art through HKAS's programs.

After years in the corporate world, Cheung said she "got a wake-up call" when her mother passed away, prompting her to rethink the value of life.

"The job at that time required me to travel extensively and station in other countries, and I felt guilty for not prioritizing family time," said Cheung.

Deciding to regain control over her life, she quit her job and returned to Hong Kong, where she enrolled at HKAS. What began as an exploration soon turned into a commitment -- she completed a higher diploma in 2020 and a bachelor's degree in 2022, finding a passion for photography along the way. At this year's fair, Cheung presents two photography works, Frozen: Azalea and Frozen: Ixora. The two are part of a series capturing seasonal flowers encased in ice, a visual representation of memory and impermanence.

In Frozen: Ixora, she uses the Ixora flower, or "Dragon Boat Flower" in Chinese because it blooms during the Dragon Boat Festival.

"This represents my childhood memories of watching dragon boat races with my family when I was young, when the Ixora blooms the best," Cheung said.

By photographing the flowers encased in ice before they melt, Cheung preserves a fleeting moment -- a way of holding onto memories even as time moves forward.

"Even though I can't stop the ice from melting, I can use photography to capture the unique moment, turn the fleeting scenes into lasting impressions," Cheung said.

Collect Hong Kong 2025 is on show at Pao Galleries, Jockey Club Atrium, and the showcase HKAC until April 4.