Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Hong Kong’s role in promoting Chinese culture was
pushed to the foreground in the 14th five-year plan. Yet most Hongkongers appear uninterested in the arts. A survey for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2018 found that nearly 75 per cent of arts “non-participants” cited a lack of interest. And those most interested in xiqu, or Chinese opera, were mainly 55 years and older. To keep Chinese culture alive, young people’s participation is crucial – perhaps art with digital elements could be the key to their hearts.
Young people are more likely to find an emotional connection in art when it is more engaging and introduced through new perspectives – something technology already allows. For example, the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s recent Art in Ink Festival presented immersive ink animations that seemingly place the audience within the artwork, with augmented reality technologies enabling immersive experiences. Other artworks incorporating elements of the metaverse or artificial intelligence could even offer interaction, inviting the audience to build personal connections.
Furthermore, digitally native young artists could infuse traditional arts with their creativity through technologies such as
non-fungible tokens or NFTs, expressing themselves in ways that show their perspective on traditional Chinese arts, and provoking the interest of like-minded individuals.
But traditional arts infused with digital elements is not just for young people. After all, who can resist a rich sensory experience? People don’t have to be familiar with art-tech to appreciate it.
Arts organisations should provide more chances for such
cross-disciplinary collaboration and recognise local talent in the field. It is a long-term investment for Hong Kong to cultivate interest in traditional arts and reinvigorate Chinese culture.
