Art reflects viral reality

Art lovers can check out a virtual reality exhibition created by more than 40 local artists.

The exhibition +VE/-VE, which started early this month, has been extended to September 18, organizer Art Next said.

Although people cannot visit the exhibition in person under social distancing curbs, they can still enjoy the artworks through a virtual tour provided online.

The artists aimed to use different art forms - including painting, photography, sculpture and multimedia display - to show the resilience of Hongkongers during these difficult times.

The exhibition's name, +VE/-VE, is short for positive and negative, indicating the negative impact brought by the pandemic and the positive strength and direction people have found in adversity.

The Art Next expo was established in 2015 in Hong Kong. Unlike gallery-focused art fairs, the Art Next expo allows visitors to speak with artists directly to understand their creative ideas, while artists may interact with potential buyers and collaborators.

Art Next founder Mianco Wong Pak-lo said the group started preparing for the exhibition in May, hoping to record the special period in Hong Kong with art.

"We think Covid-19 is not as simple as a kind of disease," Wong said. "It has a great impact on human beings."

Wong said that social distancing measures may have violated our habit of being sociable, while the crowded spaces of Hong Kong have also increased people's pain and stress amid home quarantine.

She believes the exhibition also shows how different generations of artists react to the pandemic.

Wong hopes the artists can heal despite the anxiety and insecurity brought on by the pandemic through the process of art creation, while viewers can find comfort in the exhibition.