CINEMA REIMAGINED: A JOURNEY THROUGH CELLULOID DREAMS

Name: CINEMA REIMAGINED: A JOURNEY THROUGH CELLULOID DREAMS
Start: 2025-09-06T11:00:00+08:00
End: 2025-09-06T19:00:00+08:00
Location: 20 Aberdeen Street, Central, SOHO District Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Schedule

Sat Sep 06 2025 at 11:00 am to 07:00 pm

UTC+08:00

Location

20 Aberdeen Street, Central, SOHO District Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Hong Kong, HK

WONG WO BIK & LAU KA CHUN JAY
introducing Kenrick Ho
Exhibition Period:
6 September to 25 October 2025
***Opening Reception: Saturday 6th September 3-7p.m.***
***Artist-led Tour 3-4p.m.***
Karin Weber Gallery is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking exhibition centered on film and the history of cinema. Cinema and filmmaking are integral to Hong Kong's visual culture, embodying its rich history and diverse narratives while showcasing the city's vibrant creativity and artistic spirit. This exhibition marks the first collaboration with three exceptional local artists, each bringing a unique perspective. ‘Cinema Reimagined: A Journey Through Celluloid Dreams’ is distinguished by the artists' access to a rare collection of vintage cinema equipment in Hong Kong, which serves as a profound source of inspiration for their innovative artworks.
Wong Wo Bik, a pioneering female photographer from Hong Kong, reflected on her experiences as a movie projectionist at Columbus College of Art & Design and as a part-time film editor after graduating from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, both in the USA. The new body of works are heavily influenced by Last Year at Marienbad (1961) by Alain Resnais, a film she watched decades ago that strongly shaped her artistic journey. The rise of artificial intelligence has made filmmaking, once considered exclusive and out of reach, significantly more accessible to many. Wong uses AI to craft her poetic interpretation of the film and blends traditional artistic sensibilities with cutting-edge technology, creating a unique dialogue between the past and the present. Her work invites viewers to explore the intersections of memory, identity, and the evolving nature of storytelling in the digital age.
‘Phantom limb sensation’ refers to the experience of feeling sensations in a limb that is no longer present. In cultural studies, this concept serves as a powerful metaphor for how communities maintain deep-rooted connections to cultural practices, identities, or histories that have been disrupted or erased. Artist Lau Ka Chun, Jay, is drawn to archives and records, which play a crucial role in his research-driven projects. By examining theatre catalogues from the 1940s — an era when the architectural design of movie theatres flourished — Lau taps into that sense of nostalgia. Although these old theatres may no longer exist, the memories and cultural significance they represent continue to resonate, much like the lingering sensations of a phantom limb, reminding us of the enduring ties to our shared past.
The goal of advancing technology in theatres is to enhance the audience's immersion in the cinematic world — so much so that viewers may feel as if they are part of that world themselves. Watching movies in theatres is both a communal and personal experience; it fosters shared emotions among the audience while inviting individual reflections, blending connection with solitude. Contemporary composer Kenrick Ho has transformed a TV radio set into an interactive media work that tracks bodily movement and generates dynamic audio and visual samples.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Elephant Holdings Limited for their generous loan of items from their archival collection, and the informative tour for the artists. Their invaluable support significantly enriches the exhibition and enhances the artists' work.