※ Para Site藝術空間於2023年將展覽空間擴展至榮華工業大廈十樓，新空間以「計劃空間」 作定位，期許為觀眾帶來以實驗性及回應空間為本的展覽項目。承接2022年「工作室+文 獻庫計劃」的藝術家駐留系列，2023年一月，Para Site邀請了香港藝術家鄺鎭禧駐場， 在為期四個月的駐留中發表工作日誌及回應場域創作，並於二月舉辦了工作室開放日， 也和Haptic Collision合作了現場聲音表演。
鄺鎭禧的作品常常涉及物料意義與符號的解讀，作品簡潔的呈現尤像糖衣，包裹着一針 見血的批判，帶有戲謔式的趣味，或曰諷刺。這次駐留計劃希望透過藝術家敏銳細膩的 觀察詮釋新空間對於機構的意義，同時為觀眾打開對Para Site的想像。
鄺鎭禧個展「備註 PS」由高穎琳策劃，展示了《台階》、《解圖》、《消光@PS》及《餘韻》四件 全新的委約作品。「備註」常用於文字通訊，在結尾作為附加的補充，藝術家視之為外部 微批，在為原文提供替代閱讀方式、拋出問題的引子，微批的重點在於擾亂慣性、挑釁 固化的思考，微批作為咬嚙性的存在，叩問不被懷疑的尋常，比喻了十樓空間作為擁抱 實驗性的新計劃與原有二十二樓空間的關係。
《台階》沿用了空間牆壁打通後所遺留的磚頭，重新建造成訪客穿越兩個空間之間的踏腳 石，此作品於展覽完結後會保留於空間中作恆常展示。《解圖》以機構倉庫中堆積的閑置 文獻及過期的出版物疊加並打磨而成，觀眾可從作品中窺見過去的痕跡，作品亦隨着時 間及日光強弱而產生變化，讓觀眾進入展覽的同時感受空間本身。藝術家在製作的過程 中回顧、撕開、重合、揭露並選擇呈現Para Site所累積了的歷史。《餘韻》採集了空間內 的人為活動所產生的塵埃，在沒有出口的迴圈中旋轉，此作啟發自空間在裝修時散發的 石屎味道和工地的煙塵，在藝術家每次踏入此空間時刺激着感官，直至離場後仍揮之不 去，同時隱喻藝術家在旁觀Para Site辦公室工作的日常性循環。《消光@PS》由燈具與感 應器組成，訪客行經感應器時會觸發燈光熄滅，感應器各有其偵測的距離，燈具亦各有 其熄滅的時長。借喻人的選擇或行為必然會觸發和產生影響，有時影響發生了，當事者 卻毫不察覺，是藝術家對所謂客觀事實的解讀與質疑。該裝置為黑暗的空間提供了唯一 的間歇性照明，亦以此串連所有作品及展場的完整性。
「備註 PS」作為Para Site新空間的開幕展覽，除了思考機構歷史及回應空間本身，更拋磚 引玉地回顧作為藝術家發起的替代空間的創始初衷，成長至具代表性的藝文機構，如何 在保持國際視野與回饋本地藝術工業之間取得平衡，同時在急速改變的社會環境與角力 中自處。
※ In the beginning of the year, Para Site embarked on a renovation process to open an additional exhibition space on the tenth floor of its current location. Envisioned as a ‘project space’ for experimental and site-specific exhibitions and programmes, Para Site first invited the Hong Kong based artist Kong Chun Hei to occupy the pre-renovated site. Elaborating on the ‘Studio + Archive Project’, an initiative established between 2021 and 2022, Para Site invited Kong as an artist-in-residence to use the tenth floor as a temporary studio space for four months starting from the beginning of the year. During this period, Kong has documented this process. while developing his ideas for the site-specific installations. In February 2023, he hosted an open studio event in collaboration with the sound performance collective Haptic Collision.
The work of Kong often revolves around the interpretation of materials and the deciphering of symbols. At different moments, the minimal presentation appears playful or satirical, which functions as a cover to different forms of critique expressed by the artist. The idea to invite Kong as a resident artist before the renovation was a way to encourage use of his acute observation skills over a longer duration of time. This process not only enabled the artist to respond directly to the specificities of the space, but also offered an opportunity for us to think alongside the artist to open up the imagination of Para Site’s future possibilities.
Curated by Kobe Ko, Kong’s solo exhibition ‘PS’ features four commissioned site-specific works: Stairs (2023), Breakdown (2023), Extinction@PS (2023), and Aftertaste ‘PS’ refers to the postscript commonly found at the end of written communication, which the artist regards as paratext that not only provides alternative readings, but is able to also open new lines of inquiry in relation to the main text. This attention towards paratext serves to disrupt and provoke new forms of production beyond the status quo. The presentation establishes a tension within the space, and looks to probe at areas of daily life that remain unquestioned to symbolise the connection between Para Site’s newly expanded tenth floor space to the existing space on the 22nd floor.
gleaned from the renovation process of the new space designed by COLLECTIVE.
The artist would experience a visceral stimulation of the senses each time he entered
The commissioned installation Stairs (2023) makes use of the debris and scrap material gleaned from the renovation process of the new space designed by COLLECTIVE. Creating a passage between two previously separated rooms, the installation acts as stepping stones for visitors to cross a threshold into the newly connected spaces, and will remain as a permanent installation after the conclusion of the exhibition. In the work Breakdown (2023), the artist amasses a trove of material gleaned from Para Site’s storage warehouse and past publications, which he collages and reshapes into forms that offer a glimpse into traces of its past. The appearance of the work will slowly change according to the time of day and the intensity of the sunlight outside. Throughout the process, the artist reviews, tears, compiles, exposes, and unravels material to reflect on the institution’s complex history. Aftertaste is an installation that spins dust gleaned from human activities gathered inside the exhibition space like a cyclone with no exit. The work is inspired by the artist’s experience of smelling concrete during the renovation period and from the dust accumulated from the construction. The artist would experience a visceral stimulation of the senses each time he entered into the space, a sensation that would linger on even after leaving, an experience that serves as a metaphor to the cyclical routine he observed in the Para Site office. Extinction@PS (2023) is an installation of lights and ultrasonic sensors positioned throughout the exhibition space. The sensors are set to detect objects at various distances to trigger the lights to turn off at different set durations. The work highlights the effects of people’s options and actions, and their ability to trigger and influence events. The installation also provides the only intermittent source of lighting in the darkened space, which provides sole means of visibility to engage with the other works.
As the inaugural exhibition of Para Site’s new space, the exhibition reflects on the institution’s complex history as an artist-founded alternative space, while contemplating its emergence as a leading contemporary art institution in relation to the struggles of balancing international and local interests amidst a rapidly changing social context.
the struggles of balancing international and local interests amidst a rapidly changing
※空間牆壁打通後所遺留的磚頭。 ※The debris and scrap material gleaned from the renovation process. ※倉庫中堆積的閑置文獻及過期的出版物 ※Material gleaned from Para Site’s storage warehouse and past publications.Para Site藝術空間為香港知名當代藝術中心，亦是亞洲歷史最悠久、最活躍的獨立藝術 機構之一。成立宗旨在透過展覽、出版刊物及教育項目等活動，促進在地與國際間的對 話，希冀打造一個對當代藝術、社會現象提出批判性論述及理解的平台。
Para Site is Hong Kong’s leading contemporary art centre and one of the oldest and most active independent art institutions in Asia. It produces exhibitions, publications, discursive, and educational projects aimed at forging a critical understanding of local and international phenomena in art and society.
除了參展藝術家薪酬，Para Site藝術空間為參展的香港藝術家提供醫療和牙科津貼。
Alongside artist fees to all participating artists, Para Site is offering medical and dental subsidies for Hong Kong artists in the exhibition.
特別鳴謝藝術家，以及 Mimi Chun and Chris Gradel.
Special thanks to the artist, as well as Mimi Chun and Chris Gradel.
PARA SITE 團隊 PARA SITE TEAM
團隊 Team
曾明俊 Billy Tang 執行總監兼策展人 Executive Director and Curator
馬元中 Kelly Ma 副總監 Deputy Director
何思穎 Celia Ho 策展人 Curator
潘韻怡 Doris Poon 展覽經理 Exhibition Manager
陳子岳 Jason Chen
Communications Manager
Juliana Chan
Development Manager
Holly Leung
Gallery Manager
Harold Chan
Jackson Kwong
Project Coordinator
Helen Leung
星期四 晚上6時至8時
PARA SITE 藝術空間
《備註 PS》 Kong Chun Hei Solo Exhibition
Dates: 11 May - 18 June 2023
Opening: 11 May 2023, Thursday, 6pm-8pm 10/F Para Site
策展人 C urator
高穎琳 Kobe Ko
項目助理 Project Coordinator
陳碩智 Harold Chan
鄺俊軒 Jackson Kwong
技術人員 Art Technician
劉志鏗 Herman Lau
高倩彤 Ko Sin Tung
李曉華 Li Hiuwa
平面設計 Graphic Design
陳碩智 Harold Chan
Wed – Sun, 12pm-7pm Closed on Mon, Tue, and Public Holidays
聯絡我們 Contact Us
t e : +852 25174620 : info@para-site.art : www.para-site.art : @parasite.hk : @parasitehongkong