Hollywood Road is Hong Kong’s second oldest street. The one-kilometer-long stretch of pavement running between Hong Kong Island’s Central and Sheung Wan areas is famed for its antique shops, which brim with curios and historical artifacts. However, many of the neighborhood’s businesses—some of which are over 30 years old—have found it increasingly difficult to connect with younger visitors. To foster exchanges between contemporary art and audiences with these galleries and their storied wares, sculptor Leelee Chan and curators Hilda Chan and Iven Cheung initiated the exhibition “Up Close – Hollywood Road.” Over two years, the show’s five participating artists—Oscar Chan, Lam Tung Pang, Lau Hok Shing, Bing Lee, and Chan herself—developed works in response to the antiques at four shops: Gallery149, Bonnie Lai Antiquities, Hon Ming Gallery, and Wing Hing Co. The artworks that resulted touch on the veracity of historical narratives, diasporic experiences, and the romanticism of collecting. Catch a tour of “Up Close – Hollywood Road” below.
