You may think you are seeing double when you enter the latest exhibition at Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts. “Double Vision” deliberately creates a sense of déjà vu, with works from 14 artists spread over two gallery floors that mirror each other’s layout. Curated by Tobias Berger, Jill Angel Chun and Daniel Szehin Ho, the exhibition is one of two group exhibitions that were launched last week when the contemporary art centre at the former Central Police Station reopened after a temporary closure because of Covid-19 social distancing regulations that lasted more than two months. The majority of artists featured in this playful and imaginative exhibition have at least two works on show: one on the first floor, and a so-called double directly above it, on the third floor. The deliberate sense of disorientation makes one look at each work more closely and distorts our perception of reality. Some artists, such as Sarah Lai Cheuk-wah, have created pairs of works that are near-identical twins, challenging the “truth” of each version through the introduction of subtle differences. Others have chosen to present works with similar elements but which formally are diametric opposites. For example, Hong Kong artist Ocean Leung Yu-tong’s Overjoyed (2022) and Infinite Happiness (with Gratitude) (2022) both feature the common stackable plastic chair, an object that can reference rest but can also the pursuit of power and exclusion, as in the game of musical chairs. On the first floor, the chairs are stacked in an orderly way but so high that they begin to snake over a partition wall; upstairs, the chairs seem to have been flung apart, each one grotesquely contorted, overwhelming the space with a feeling of conflict but also liberation. Between the floors occupied by “Double Vision” is another exhibition, “emo gym” – short for “emotional gymnasium”. Curated by Erin Li, the exhibition highlights seven emerging Hong Kong artists who tackle the both the vulnerability of human relationships as well as our inherent need for connection, especially in light of the pandemic, divisive politics and the digitisation of our lives. The dim lighting of the exhibition lends the space a sense of calmness and makes it a “safe space” for viewers to get in touch with their emotions. The exhibition’s title is inspired by Michele Chu’s inti-gym (2021), a space enclosed by soft, stocking-like fabric. Viewers are invited to take off their shoes and step inside the space, while a partner – or a stranger – can enter from the opposite end. Instructions from an MP3 player guide participants through a multisensory exercise that aims to foster connection, including of sight, sound and touch. Within the space, there are also question prompts that encourage participants to be vulnerable and create an intimate, if fleeting, experience together. If Tomorrow Never Comes (2020-2021) by Sharon Lee features pinhole photographs of people in her life, taken while having a conversation with them about their future plans. Lee challenges the typical dynamic between photographer and subject by allowing them to regain power – each photo is taken using a pinhole camera made from an object from the participant’s past. The exposure time of each photograph reflects the length of each conversation, and this results in a series of soft-focus images that elicit questions about the uncertainties of tomorrow. As in “Double Vision”, the relationship between the emotional and the physical are explored in “emo gym”, with several artists also examining the contradictions and complexities in topics such as surveillance and digitisation. And while actual gyms may be concerned with structure and conventional aesthetics, “emo gym” encourages the audience to just feel, rather than overthink, the artworks. The curator hopes that, by doing so, they can let repressed emotions have a good workout. The exhibition is accompanied by a playlist of 25 emo music pieces picked by Tai Kwun staff. Perhaps, after the difficulties of the past several years, this will help people revive and recover. “Double Vision” and “emo gym” are showing at JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Tues-Sun, 11am-7pm. Until June 12 (“Double Vision”) and June 19 (“emo gym”).