"Arts in the City: Our Southerly Days" Press Release
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Hong Kong Arts Development Council Presents a New Art Walk of
the “Arts in the City” -- “Our Southerly Days”
14 October to 5 November 2025
Strolling South and Embedding Art in Local Stories
Tracing Everyday Aesthetics and Community Stories through Fishery．Delight．Corners
【Hong Kong, 15 October 2025】Having walked through the lanes of Tai Hang, discovered stories in Yuen Long and strolled along Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) presents a brand-new art walk “Our Southerly Days”. From 14 October to 5 November, the new art walk infuses the neighbourhood of the Southern District with artistic imagination through public art installations and an array of arts activities, inviting the visitors and people of Hong Kong to explore the district’s history and aesthetics across generations.
Rooted in the Community: Tracing Everyday Lives through Art
Curated by One Bite Design Studio, “Our Southerly Days” brings together artists who live, work and grow up in the Southern District. They are the creative duo “Deep Food”, artists Sarah Mui and LeonLollipop — each interpreting the thematic themes of “Fishery”, “Delight” and “Corners” through works that celebrate the everyday aesthetics of the Southern District and explore its stories.
As part of the HKADC’s 30th Anniversary Gala Festival, “Our Southerly Days” made its debut and launched the first round of events at the ADC Artspace (Wong Chuk Hang) Open Day and Aberdeen Promenade on 11 and 12 October. Events included “Aberdeen Fishing Dreams” by “Deep Food”, an immersive culinary art performance aboard a ferry featuring bygone ingredients and dining traditions, re-telling community stories and culinary memories of boat-dwellers. The creative duo also hosted a sharing session on their source of inspiration, research, culinary reconstruction, design and technical processes behind the performance, alongside a dried seafood tracing workshop where participants were invited to capture the colours and textures of the Southern District. For artist Sarah Mui’s sharing session “Share it! Once Upon Our Play Time”, she invited long-time Southern District kaifongs to join the public in revisiting and playing the nostalgic games from the 1960s and 1970, recalling the joyful moments of community life back then.
Artful Encounters: Immersive Programmes and Deeper Exploration Across the South
Running from 14 October to 5 November, the second round of events will have the creative teams, artists and experienced docents from the Hong Kong Architecture Centre guiding the public through a new round of extended activities and five thematic art tours — offering diverse ways to experience the district’s fishing heritage, the community’s childhood stories and the unique corners and scenes of the Southern District:
“Deep Food” — Artwork and Extended Activities | “Aberdeen Fishing Dreams” by “Deep Food” is Inspired by the seafaring heritage of the Southern District’s boat‑dwelling community. “Deep Food” presents an immersive culinary art performance and mobile installation aboard the kaito ferry, connecting the present with the community’s fishing traditions and offering echoes of the district’s rich fishing culture.
In addition, “Harbour Depths: A Fishing Stroll through Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau” will take participants on a walk through the fishing community, including a kaito ferry ride that reveals the contrasts between the old and new Aberdeen Harbour.
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Sarah Mui — | Reviving childhood games unique to different eras in the Southern District, Sarah Mui’s installation “Once Upon Our Play Time” presents a toy car and a vending machine. Travelling through Aberdeen, Wah Fu Estate and Wong Chuk Hang, the installation invites the general public to play on the spot, linking past and present through the joy of shared community life.
Sarah’s workshop “Make it! Once Upon Our Play Time” introduces the well‑known myths and legends featured in the “figure cards”, guiding participants in designing their personalised figure card games to enrich home toy collections. Two guided tours, “Tunnel of Time: Childhood Memories in Wah Fu Estate” and “Back to the South: A Journey through Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau” will unveil captivating local stories and hidden histories of the Southern District.
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LeonLollipop — Artwork and Extended Activities | Mixed-media project by LeonLollipop — “Gloomie Cat’s Southern Journey” features a giant cat installation, paintings and murals across locations including Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen Promenade, Stanley Promenade, the pulse and THE SOUTHSIDE, turning the district into a delightful “treasure hunt” and inviting the public to rediscover the charm and stories of each hidden corner. “Chill & Paint in Stanley” Seaside Watercolour Workshop invites the public to join the artist for a sketching session at the Stanley Main Street and soak into the district’s unique charm — enjoying the soothing sea breeze and taking in the glittering waves. Guided tour “Gloomie” in the South: A Stroll through Stanley will explore local art details, heritage buildings and the aesthetic harmony between seaside scenery and daily life, revealing Stanley’s distinctive space and culture.
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“Our Southerly Days” — Extended Activity | “Southern Threads: A Bus Tour of Everyday Life”, a bus tour led by the project curator and three experienced docents, uncovers the rich history and cultural textures of the Southern shoreline through the lenses of cultural diversity, community life, architectural legacy and local cuisine.
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Registration is now open for the second round of events (14 October to 5 November). Places are limited. Secure your seat and register now at https://www.popticket.hk/en/event/our-southerly-days.
You are cordially invited to join us on this journey to discover the aesthetics of the Southern District.
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