25 Reasons to Visit the Southside
Need to escape the toil of your northbound city life? Visit the Southside: it’s a paradise for all!
Ah, the Southside: home to tycoons, tai-tais and international school kids skulking on the Stanley waterfront. But there’s more to this posh area than taking tourists on a trip to the Jumbo. Here are 25 other reasons why the Southside is so hot right now.
Vibrant Art & Culture!
Wong Chuk Hang and Aberdeen are emerging from their industrial past into an art-filled future. See the finest of Hong Kong culture in these southern art meccas!
Snap Happy
Relocated from Central to an airy industrial building space, Blindspot Gallery brings exquisite and quirky photography from acclaimed artists from all around the world. Recent exhibitors include Nadav Kander, who’s photographed the likes of Obama; and currently, the fascinating group show “780s,” featuring works by seven Hong Kong artists born in the 80s.
15/F, Po Chai Industrial Building, 28 Wong Chuk Hang Rd., Wong Chuk Hang, 2517-6238, www.blindspotgallery.com.
Japanese Invasion
Aishonanzuka has the best selection of Japanese artists in town, regularly hosting shows full of surreal, contemporary art. You just might catch psychedelic dot paintings by Kazuma Koike, or Toru Kamei’s captivating yet morbid still lifes of rotting flowers and skulls.
13A Regency Centre Phase 1, 39 Wong Chuk Hang Rd., Wong Chuk Hang, www.aishonanzuka.com.
Exit Strategy
One of the main supporters of local avant garde art, Gallery Exit showcases works from some of Hong Kong’s hottest rising stars: think Silas Fong, Angela Su, Hanison Lau Hok-shing, and Trevor Yeung. Exit co-founded its Southsite venue with Hong Kong New Music Ensemble to bring cutting edge music and art alike down south.
Southsite, Unit 2B, 3/F, Blue Box Factory Building, 25 Hing Wo St., Tin Wan, Aberdeen, www.galleryexit.com.
Impeccable use of white space at Southsite
Talk Shop
Discerning art lovers after a bit of intellectual discussion should head to Spring Workshop, a non-profit art space that highlights all sectors of Hong Kong art: from Nadim Abbas’s installations to local illustrator duo MAP Office. It also regularly hosts artists from abroad.
3/F, Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Rd., Aberdeen, 2110-4370, www.springworkshop.org.
Southern Spring fling