The Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT) will present a series of captivating exhibitions during Hong Kong's Art March 2025, exploring the fascinating intersections between traditional folk craft and contemporary artistic vision. The main exhibition, titled "Lining Revealed – A Journey Through Folk Wisdom and Contemporary Vision," brings together works from 13 artists across Asia, celebrating the enduring connections between heritage textile practices and modern creative expression.
Folk Craft Meets Contemporary Art in Major Exhibition
Curated by Wang Weiwei, CHAT's Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, "Lining Revealed" thoughtfully juxtaposes artworks, handicrafts, and archival documents to showcase the rich diversity of Asian textile traditions. Visitors will experience handwoven and silkscreen-printed Chinese fabrics, traditional Indonesian weavings, and Central Asian ornamental motifs alongside contemporary interpretations.
"Audiences will journey from the patchwork quilts of nomadic tribes to the silkscreen prints of agrarian island communities, and beyond," explains curator Wang Weiwei. "By presenting these diverse crafts alongside contemporary works, we hope to foster a dynamic dialogue between the past, present and future – ultimately revealing the historical, social and cultural significance embodied in folk craft."
Ari Bayuaji, Weaving the Ocean, 2024
Young In Hong, Ring of Animals, 2023
Exhibition Highlights: From Ocean Plastic to Cultural Revolution Textiles
Upon entering The Hall of The Mills, visitors will be greeted by Indonesian artist Ari Bayuaji's breathtaking three-storey installation "Weaving the Ocean" (2020–). This remarkable work transforms plastic ropes collected from Bali's coastline into thin, colorful threads, demonstrating creative approaches to environmental concerns. The artist has also created limited-edition bracelets inspired by the traditional tri-colored Balinese Tridatu bracelet to accompany the exhibition.
Another exhibition highlight is a precious collection of "tubu" from Chongming Island, China, on loan from fabric collector He Yongdi. These homespun, hand-screen-printed textiles from the 1960s to 1990s are rarely displayed outside mainland China. The fabrics, produced during the Cultural Revolution and other significant historical periods, feature rich patterns reflecting China's socio-cultural characteristics of the era. Limited edition mini pouches made from the silkscreen-printed Chongming tubu will be available at the museum shop.
The exhibition also includes new works by Turkish artist Güneş Terkol, Indonesian artist Salima Hakim, and Malaysian artist Yim Yen Sum, co-commissioned with Sharjah Art Foundation. These pieces spotlight the traditional textile techniques and community culture of Flores, Indonesia. Different versions of these works will first appear at the Sharjah Biennial opening on February 6, before being shown at CHAT from March 2025, marking CHAT's first co-commissioned works with a biennial.
Kazakh artist Aziza Shadenova's "Dastarkhan (Her Skirt)" (2024) takes the form of a large skirt and colorful soft pads arranged in a square, replicating the traditional Central Asian table setting known as "dastarkhan." This "wearable tablecloth," created collaboratively with the artist's mother, honors Central Asian women and highlights the beauty often hidden beneath daily routines. This presentation builds on CHAT's successful 2023 exhibition of Central Asian textile culture.
Additional Exhibitions Exploring Hong Kong's Textile Heritage
In addition to the main exhibition, CHAT will present "Busy Needles – Textile Embellishments of Hong Kong," curated by Bruce Li, Associate Curator of CHAT. This special display invites visitors to reconsider the phrase "Made in Hong Kong" while exploring three textile embellishment techniques: drawnwork, beading, and embroidery through traditional Chinese wedding gowns, fabric samples, embroidery sketches, and knitwear catalogs.
"Artefacts of Motif" will showcase objects and archival materials from CHAT's collection, using the dragon motif to explore how traditional symbols are sustained and reinterpreted across different textiles, from traditional Chinese marriage gowns to contemporary artworks.
CHAT at Art Basel Hong Kong
As a cultural partner of Art Basel Hong Kong, CHAT will present a booth featuring large-scale collaborative artworks by Guangzhou-based artist collective BOLOHO. Visitors can participate in workshops on natural-dyed fabric badge making and "dot-beading" on textiles throughout the week.
From March 28 to 30, a free shuttle bus service operated by CHAT and M+ will connect CHAT at The Mills, Art Basel at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and West Kowloon Cultural District, making it easier for the public to participate in these cultural events.
Lining Revealed – A Journey Through Folk Wisdom and Contemporary Vision
Dates: March 15 – July 13, 2025
Opening hours: 11am – 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Venue: CHAT, 2/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Busy Needles – Textile Embellishments of Hong Kong
Dates: March 10, 2025 onwards
Opening hours: 11am – 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Venue: The D. H. Chen Foundation Gallery, CHAT, 2/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Artefacts of Motif
Dates: March 14 – July 13, 2025
Opening hours: 11am – 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Venue: CHAT Lounge, CHAT, 2/F, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
CHAT's Booth at Art Basel Hong Kong
Dates: March 28 – 30, 2025
Opening hours: 12noon – 8pm (12noon – 6pm on March 30)
Venue: Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
For more details on exhibitions and accompanying programs and workshops, please visit https://www.mill6chat.org/
