Hong Kong’s Stay Connected exhibition explores tech’s impact on art and society
From VR-driven games to sculptures exploring gender dynamics, Tai Kwun’s largest show yet examines China’s digital transformation
Featuring more than 70 artists, Tai Kwun’s latest exhibition, “Stay Connected: Art and China Since 2008”, probes technological changes to art and society in China and around the globe over the past two decades. It’s the first time Tai Kwun has staged a show of this scale: all three floors of JC Contemporary and the F Hall Gallery have been dedicated to the exhibition, which will unfold in two parts.
Running until January 4, 2026, the first part, “Navigating the Cloud”, looks into how digital technology has reshaped society as well as how artists create, tackling the contradictions of living in an increasingly digital world where openness is undercut by government censorship. More than 50 pieces from over 35 artists and collectives are organised into eight thematic sections addressing ideas such as artificial intelligence, online communities, echo chambers and the shifts in human labour driven by digital tools.
The show’s second part, “Supplying the Globe”, will run from February 27 to May 31. Across both chapters, “Stay Connected” opens discussions on globalisation, environmental concerns, migration and identity politics, and also includes film screenings, curated talks and educational activities.