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Image Caption: ‘Artist Zenavi and her latest multi media billboard installation at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’
Since its inception, Digital Art Fair has been dedicated to fostering and empowering emerging artists within the region. Following prosperous Incubation programs in 2021 and 2022, the Digital Art Fair introduced the Pioneer Art Prize in 2023, offering artists specializing in digital art, exhibition and residency opportunities globally.
In the current year, the Digital Art Fair has engaged artists Zenavi and The Chinese Dictionary and has positioned their works on a larger stage for new audiences within Hong Kong. By leveraging Hong Kong's enthusiasm for digital art, the Digital Art Fair has efficiently bridged artists with two initiatives focused on expanding the appeal of digital art to a broader audience.
Digital Art Fair Incubation Programmes: 2021, 2022, 2023
Image Caption: ‘Incubation Zone at Digital Art Fair 2021, featuring works from Sharmaine Kwan and Kitty Ho’
In 2021 at our inaugural edition, we launched the Young Artists Incubation Programme, aimed at uplifting and showcasing fresh graduates from Hong Kong, and to use the Fair as a platform to display their art. We believe that fostering young talent is essential for the growth and evolution of the arts. By giving these artists a platform to shine, we are not only supporting their individual journeys but also contributing to the broader cultural dialogue. After the Incubation Programme, Artist Sharmaine Kwan, has gone on to collaborate and work with Hong Kong International Airport, Theatre of Digital Art Dubai and the Hong Kong University Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.
In 2022 to nurture, support, and celebrate the next generation of artists, Digital Art Fair invited young artists to present artworks to the Incubation Programme for the 2022 Hong Kong Edition. Featured artists include Nygilia McClain, who has secured projects with Loreal, Refraction Festival, AnCurated and Hong Kong based-artist duo INNSVX, who have Affordable Art Fair, PABEPABE, NetAPorter as their list of exhibitions and clients.
Image Caption: The Pioneer Zone at Digital Art Fair 2022, featuring works from Nygilia McClain and INNSVX
2023 saw the first collaborative launch of our Pioneer Art Prize, alongside our partners, Paris-based digital art agency BRAWHAUS, and studio and residency partners, Labyrinth Art. The winner of the Pioneer Art Prize, Fuat Degirmenci, has received exhibition opportunities in Paris and New York City, alongside a 3-month residency programme in Bali, with Labyrinth Art. These opportunities provide Degirmenci with an international platform to showcase his work to a diverse audience, opening doors to new collaborations and opportunities while he immerses himself in the local culture of Bali and draw inspiration from the island's rich artistic heritage.
Projects in 2024
Image Caption: ‘Artist Zenavi and her latest multi media, billboard installation at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’
In 2024, Digital Art fair commissioned Indonesian-German artist Zenavi to lead a remarkable large-scale outdoor advertising campaign in partnership with LG Electronics. Zenavi's unique artistic style and vibrant color palette harmonize seamlessly with LG's ethos of enhancing lifestyles through better sleep, dining, living, and leisure experiences. The multi media installation at Causeway Bay is on show to 1 million people daily, in one of the busiest shopping and tourist districts in Hong Kong and on display for 3 weeks from July to August 2024.
Artist Zenavi said: “I am so honored to have been given the chance to share my art through this project with LG and Digital Art Fair, allowing creative expression for me while expanded the Jar ideas into their own. Colorful and intricate jars are a big part of my art style, a symbol of memories we can cherish and bring with us everywhere. To incorporate something I value into "The Jars of Life", a fun and colorful journey of discovering LG products, has been a dream come true.”
Image Caption: ‘Artist Zenavi and her “Jar of Life” installation at Festival Walk, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’
Alongside the billboard, Zenavi and LG will also be showcasing a “Jar of Life” art installation in Causeway Bay’s Fashion Walk. The installation is a conceptual extract of the short film made for the billboard presentation, and the “Jar of Life” will be exhibited to the public from 19th August 2024 to 29th September 2024.
Image Caption: ‘Artist group The Chinese Dictionary and their latest installation at the newly opened KYRA Lounge at the Hong Kong International Airport’
Moving on from expansive outdoor public installations with LG, to more intimate, private settings, Digital Art Fair collaborated with the artist group, The Chinese Dictionary, to embellish the walls of the recently unveiled Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. The group's approach of utilising video and narrative structures to delve deeper into the significance of specific Chinese characters and languages aligns perfectly with the lounge's ambience. By incorporating six video works by The Chinese Dictionary onto the lounge’s walls, passengers will have the opportunity to pause, unwind, and engage with these thoughtful, language-inspired digital artworks as they wait for their flights.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
LG "Jar of Life" art film and outdoor billboard
Date: 26th July 2024 - 22nd August 2024 (Outdoor Billboard)
19th August 2024 - 29th September 2024 (Pop-up Installation)
Venue: Island Beverley and Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
The Chinese Dictionary @ Kyra Lounge
Date: August 2024 to March 2025Venue: Kyra Lounge, Level 6, Terminal 1 Central Concourse (by Gate 23), Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
Media Enquiries：
Digital Art Fair
Polly Chan
About Digital Art Fair
Digital Art Fair is the most innovative annual art fair in the world of the digital art era, showcasing some of the most innovative and exciting digital art and NFTs from around the globe. The fair provides a platform for emerging and established artists to exhibit their work, and for art enthusiasts and collectors to discover and acquire new digital artwork.
Since its inception in 2021, Digital Art Fair has grown in both size and reputation, attracting ten of thousands of visitors each year.
The fair features a wide range of digital art and NFTs, including video installations, interactive pieces, augmented reality experiences, and much more. It also offers a program of talks and panel discussions, led by experts in the field, on topics such as the future of digital art, the role of technology in the art world, and the intersection of art and science.
About Zenavi
Zenavi (Filipina / German) is an artist working across illustration and 2D animation, creating intricate kaleidoscope patterns that act as portals into otherworldly dimensions - especially ones that connect with our most intimate truths. Her works have been shown internationally across New York, Lisbon, Paris, Bali and more.
She also incorporates music, artificial intelligence and interactive technologies in her projects, exploring a wide range of storytelling formats. Zenavi is also Co-Founder of NFT Asia, and a Lecturer in Communication and Public Relations in Indonesia.
About The Chinese Dictionary
Based in Hong Kong with team members globally, The Chinese Dictionary seek to use video and narrative structures to further explore the meaning of specific Chinese characters and languages. This explorations have helped provide an archive of letters, and stories told from Hong Kongers here and abroad.
The archive of letters and stories collected by The Chinese Dictionary serves as a valuable resource for cultural preservation and shared experiences. These narratives provide a platform for individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and personal stories related to language, culture, and identity. By amplifying these voices, The Chinese Dictionary team helps to foster a deeper understanding and connection among Hong Kongers, both within the city and across borders.