Making art accessible Hollie Chung Hong Kong ArtWalk may be 10 years old, but it does not seem to go out of fashion. This year's event was again a great success. Sixty-two galleries opened their doors on March 17 to art lovers. Participants wandered around Wan Chai, Central and Sheung Wan or visited the lesser-known galleries in Aberdeen and Causeway Bay. A huge variety of artworks was on display, ranging from paintings and sculptures to 2D and 3D installations. Joel Eriksson, from Sweden, was taking part in the ArtWalk for the first time. Eriksson said he was impressed by the quality of the visual arts, but was slightly disappointed he couldn't meet some of the artists. Most gallery owners were happy to see people using the one-night experience to discover a new world. Joanne Hickton, a spokesperson for Contemporary by Angela Li, said: 'Thanks to ArtWalk, people no longer feel uncomfortable about walking into galleries.' Bibiane Lam, from the same gallery, hopes more locals will join the event in future. 'Most of the participants are Westerners,' she said. All for charity Nick Hu The Society for Community Organisation, or Soco, is a beneficiary of this year's Hong Kong ArtWalk. It was set up in 1971, and fights to improve living standards for the underprivileged, including the unemployed and new immigrants. Money raised from ArtWalk will go towards Soco's social projects which focus on pressing issues like cage homes, and health care for poor children and the elderly. According to Soco community organiser Sze Lai-shan, they always stand up for the rights of the less fortunate. There are about 1.3 million Hongkongers living below the poverty line. The non- profit organisation makes sure the voices of those in need are heard loud and clear. Experiences Nick Hu It was a wonderful opportunity to see a business hub being transformed into a haven for art lovers. ArtWalk gave me a chance to take a break from my busy schedule and visit many art galleries. They are all too often overlooked by the public. I was surprised by the large number of art lovers who took to the streets to appreciate the diversity of Hong Kong's arts scene. Jocelyn Wong During the three-hour 'walk', the junior reporters were introduced to creations by artists from different cultures that showcased their unique viewpoint. Hollie Chung I think the greatest thing was that we could have a glimpse of all sorts of artworks at the same time. There was a lot of walking involved which is good for people who lack exercise. Highlight: Sundaram Tagore Gallery Lauren Engel In the heart of Central is the Sundaram Tagore Gallery. The gallery is currently exhibiting works of Natvar Bhavsar. The Indian artist, based in Soho, New York City, is famous for his 'sand-paintings'. His technique is based on Indian traditions and requires a lot of patience. Bhavsar uses colour and improvisation to enliven his paintings. The gallery owner, Sundaram Tagore, was in town for the event. Tagore hopes his gallery, which features artworks from around the world, will help bring people together. Highlight: Goethe-Institut Hong Kong Jocelyn Wong One of the highlights that emerged from Hong Kong ArtWalk 2010 is pixel art. From Wang Liang's chromographic prints to Michael Wolfe's computer-manipulated images, it appears that pixel art is taking off and that modern technology is combining well with art. Now on display at the Goethe-Institut Hongkong, Paris Street View features prints by Wolfe. The German artist visited Paris and shot a series of candid images of Parisian life without getting off his sofa. How? He used Google Earth to explore the city. Taken at maximum zoom, the pictures can often look blurry. To make sense of the pictures, the viewer has to look at them from a distance, explains Michael Muller-Verweyen, director of the Goethe-Institut Hongkong. Wolfe's images appear spontaneous and provide a humorous look at the beauty, sadness and normality of urban life.