https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/23/feed Find all the latest movie and music reviews, listings, celebrity news and interviews en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo British choreographer Alastair Marriott never expected to turn his childhood love of Charlie Chaplin films into a full-scale production in Tokyo with the National Ballet of Japan. Ballet is often seen as high art: formal and reserved. Chaplin, by contrast, built his comedy on slapstick and mime. During the pandemic, Marriott, who was developing a new production at the time, decided to revisit City Lights, Chaplin’s 1931 masterpiece. In the film, Chaplin’s character, Little Tramp, falls in love... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371757/charlie-chaplins-city-lights-gets-ballet-spin-tokyo-classical-dance-meets-comedy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371757/charlie-chaplins-city-lights-gets-ballet-spin-tokyo-classical-dance-meets-comedy Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Cathy Fan Cathy Fan While the Tang dynasty (618-907) is synonymous with a golden age of Chinese arts and culture, its glittering reign was fractured by one of history’s most devastating civil wars. Today, the life and work of the revered Tang dynasty calligrapher Yan Zhenqing, a key figure in that 1,200-year-old tragedy, are capturing the attention of millions, partly thanks to an AI microdrama. The series titled Yanbian Qingmei, which roughly translates to Green Plums by the Inkstone, has accumulated more than 100... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371727/how-ai-microdrama-yanbian-qingmei-driving-interest-ancient-chinese-calligrapher https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371727/how-ai-microdrama-yanbian-qingmei-driving-interest-ancient-chinese-calligrapher Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu As we inch closer to the end of October, the city is ready to embrace the spooky and cosy ambience of the season – though the sweltering weather means we cannot ease into an autumnal mood just yet. Whether it is trying dishes with seasonal ingredients or checking out a new movie, here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. M+’s Myths and Monsters As the first major survey exploring two centuries of Asian fantasy visual culture, the latest exhibition at M+, “Myths and Monsters: The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371736/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-23-25 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371736/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-23-25 Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:15:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. This ancient Chinese warrior queen led huge armies and stole a king’s heart Fu Hao is one of the earliest documented female military generals in history, yet relatively little is known about her. Most of the information gathered about her life is from her tomb. 2. How to prevent osteoporosis, from training to eating... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371716/ancient-chinese-warrior-queen-how-prevent-osteoporosis-7-lifestyle-highlights Thu, 22 Oct 2026 07:15:06 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava Growing up, Thai artist Nawin Nuthong loved playing video games, especially Civilization, where players can create empires as historical leaders. Drawn to playing as King Ramkhamhaeng, who ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279 to 1298 in what is now Thailand, Nawin soon became interested in how history is constructed. The 33-year-old now combines his twin passions for history and video games through his multimedia practice, which examines how new technology shapes and advances societies. His... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371454/thai-artist-blends-history-and-gaming-installation-puts-visitors-control https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371454/thai-artist-blends-history-and-gaming-installation-puts-visitors-control Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Before Juan Diego Florez became one of the most celebrated opera tenors of his generation, he was on his way to being a pop star. Music was always part of family life. His father, Ruben Florez, was a respected singer of Peruvian criolla folk music; his mother, Maria Teresa Salom, managed a Lima pub with live music. As a boy, Juan Diego Florez would sometimes be asked to stand in and perform with his guitar. That early exposure gave him his first taste of being on stage, and by his teens, he was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371621/peruvian-tenor-juan-diego-florez-hong-kong-debut-pavarottis-regret-and-singing-food https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371621/peruvian-tenor-juan-diego-florez-hong-kong-debut-pavarottis-regret-and-singing-food Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Natasha Rogai Natasha Rogai There is nothing more difficult than living up to expectations. Dunhuang: In Search of Light is the first new full-length production for Hong Kong Ballet by the husband-and-wife choreographic team of Ricky Hu Songwei and Mai Jingwen since the multi-award-winning The Butterfly Lovers in 2024. The exceptional success of its predecessor raised the bar, and while the new work offers plenty to enjoy, it does not reach the same level. On the plus side, the lush, atmospheric score by Tian Mi (composer... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371349/hong-kong-ballets-visually-stunning-dunhuang-search-light-fails-fully-tell-tale https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371349/hong-kong-ballets-visually-stunning-dunhuang-search-light-fails-fully-tell-tale Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Alex Howlett Alex Howlett On September 22, after a five-year trial, 15 men from Sri Lanka’s minority Muslim community were convicted and sentenced to 200 to 260 years in prison each for their involvement in the 2019 Easter bombings. The coordinated suicide attacks on luxury hotels and Christian places of worship on April 21, 2019, remain one of the deadliest terror incidents in the island nation’s history, claiming more than 250 lives. While the devastation and subsequent investigations were covered widely in the global... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370980/sri-lankan-writer-nifraz-rifazs-debut-novel-confronts-islamophobia-after-easter-bombings https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370980/sri-lankan-writer-nifraz-rifazs-debut-novel-confronts-islamophobia-after-easter-bombings Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Contemporary photography museum Fotografiska’s newest outpost in Shenzhen is strikingly different from its original venue in Stockholm, Sweden – in the former customs building on the Stadsgardshamnen waterfront – or its Shanghai location, which opened in 2023 inside the Guang San Warehouse. In Shenzhen, a technological metropolis where sleek high-rises and futuristic cultural venues continue to emerge, the museum integrates into the modern urban landscape with a crisp white rectangular facade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371088/hong-kong-would-be-impossible-why-newest-fotografiska-photo-museum-shenzhen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371088/hong-kong-would-be-impossible-why-newest-fotografiska-photo-museum-shenzhen Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo St Stephen’s Society looks more like a contemporary art gallery than a rehabilitation facility. At the non-profit Christian charity’s compound in Hong Kong’s New Territories, there are corridors lined with sketches, canvases and photography and a wall of art supplies. Founder Jacqueline “Jackie” Pullinger, a British missionary now in her eighties, proudly looks at the artwork created by its residents. A selection will be showcased at the upcoming exhibition “285 and Counting”, named for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371165/missionarys-stories-kowloon-walled-city-live-new-exhibition-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371165/missionarys-stories-kowloon-walled-city-live-new-exhibition-hong-kong Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Payal Uttam Payal Uttam At the 2026 Jakarta Biennale, visitors can plant cassava in moist soil. An evocative soundscape, including the calls of threatened birds-of-paradise, fills the air. Paintings made with natural pigments on tree bark hang on the walls. The installation by Papua-based artist collective Alyakha Kolektif draws attention to illegal gold mining and excessive logging that are damaging the environment in Indonesia’s Sentani region. The cassava planting, which continues until late October, is intended as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371089/gritty-jakarta-biennale-polished-art-jakarta-both-tell-indonesias-story-haze-and-all https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3371089/gritty-jakarta-biennale-polished-art-jakarta-both-tell-indonesias-story-haze-and-all Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Mid-October is a tease for Halloween fans – spooky season feels tantalisingly near, yet still just out of reach. Luckily, Hong Kong offers plenty to keep you busy until then, and remember that Monday is a public holiday. Whether you are after a new piece of ink, a perfect pour-over, a night at the ballet or a deeper stretch, there is more than one way to fill the long weekend. 1. Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2026 The Hong Kong China International Tattoo Exhibition 2026 will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370938/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-long-weekend-october-16-19 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370938/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-long-weekend-october-16-19 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:16:56 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo When Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant capsized and sank in the South China Sea in 2022, social media users lamented the loss of a culinary icon. Some tongue-in-cheek proposals called for it to be transformed into an underwater restaurant or diving sanctuary. No salvage operation or documentary project has materialised, leaving the fate of the wreck a lingering mystery. That sense of loss, nostalgia and imagination surrounding Hong Kong’s vanished and disappearing landmarks anchored City... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370575/jumbo-floating-restaurant-neon-nostalgia-aplenty-hong-kong-art-tech-show https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370575/jumbo-floating-restaurant-neon-nostalgia-aplenty-hong-kong-art-tech-show Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung A collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces – including a rarely seen landscape painting by Vincent van Gogh – which have been hidden from public view for more than half a century, will be going under the hammer this November. The Blaquier-Arrieta Collection has made its global debut in Hong Kong, with a dozen works on show until October 15, before being put up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York. The collection, amassed by the Argentinian businessman Carlos Pedro Blaquier... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370705/rarely-seen-us180-million-van-gogh-show-hong-kong-ahead-new-york-auction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370705/rarely-seen-us180-million-van-gogh-show-hong-kong-ahead-new-york-auction Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:16:43 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung When Taiwan-based tattoo artist Jimmy Shy and street-film photographer Yu Chang decided to travel to Hong Kong to document the city’s fading post-war tattoo history, they agreed on one criterion: they would find their subjects only on the street. “We relied entirely on instinct,” Shy says of the project, which started in 2023 but began life as casual phone photos years earlier. “A lot of tattoos were hidden under clothing, so whenever we had a feeling that someone might have the kind of tattoo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370577/how-hong-kongs-post-war-tattoo-scene-fused-sailor-art-chinese-imagery https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370577/how-hong-kongs-post-war-tattoo-scene-fused-sailor-art-chinese-imagery Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:15:17 +0000 Natasha Rogai Natasha Rogai Opera Hong Kong’s first fully staged production of Pietro Mascagni’s 1890 Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s 1892 Pagliacci does justice to the classic double bill. Familiarly known as Cav/Pag, the production features lively staging, strong performances in the leading roles and splendid work by the Opera Hong Kong Chorus. Since 1893, the two operas have often been performed together for obvious reasons. Both are set in the rural Italian south and both explore themes of jealousy,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370537/opera-hong-kongs-cavalleria-rusticana-and-pagliacci-double-bill-lights-stage https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370537/opera-hong-kongs-cavalleria-rusticana-and-pagliacci-double-bill-lights-stage Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:15:06 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani In a city known for hype-filled events, from the Oscars and Grammys to countless Hollywood premieres, the recent opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles occupied its own stratosphere, drawing a constellation of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams. Many of the names at the museum’s September 19 grand opening were there to wish founder George Lucas, creator of the sprawling Star Wars franchise, and his wife, Mellody Hobson,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370324/its-chinese-architect-manga-how-asian-influences-abound-los-angeles-lucas-museum https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370324/its-chinese-architect-manga-how-asian-influences-abound-los-angeles-lucas-museum Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:45:47 +0000 Reggie Ho,Morning Studio editors Reggie Ho,Morning Studio editors Hong Kong’s Asia+ Festival, the annual celebration of the cultural diversity of the region, particularly those countries linked by the Belt and Road Initiative – China’s plan to develop a global trading network – is back for its fourth edition under the theme “Traditions Recast”. Two headline shows at this year’s festival – organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department – which runs until the end of November, perfectly capture that spirit by fusing ancient music with visual art and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/native/lifestyle/arts/topics/asia-and-beyonds-cultural-showcase/article/3370037/melody-inspired-calligraphy-and-boundary-breaking-mash-headline-asia-festival https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/native/lifestyle/arts/topics/asia-and-beyonds-cultural-showcase/article/3370037/melody-inspired-calligraphy-and-boundary-breaking-mash-headline-asia-festival Sun, 11 Oct 2026 16:00:08 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo At nearly 80, South Korean artist Kang Myonghi retains the creative energy of her youth. She remains active in her studio, with her commitment to international projects undiminished. In recent months, she has visited Hong Kong twice to prepare for “What Remains to be Seen”, her first solo exhibition at a gallery in two years. The only pause in her working routine came during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. Travel restrictions did little to stem her creative output, however. Being confined to Jeju... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370314/nearly-80-korean-artist-kang-myonghi-talks-about-what-remains-be-seen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370314/nearly-80-korean-artist-kang-myonghi-talks-about-what-remains-be-seen Sat, 10 Oct 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo On a typical day, Kat O – a tranquil island within the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, in the northeastern waters of the New Territories – sees just a small number of visitors, who arrive mostly for a scenic hike through its heritage trails. However, with an island-wide festival taking place from October 11 to 15, things are about to get lively. In the run-up to the festivities, villagers are busy completing a giant bamboo theatre, traditional puppets and parade lanterns, while local artists... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3370266/why-dajiao-festival-hong-kongs-kat-o-island-held-once-every-10-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3370266/why-dajiao-festival-hong-kongs-kat-o-island-held-once-every-10-years Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung At first glance, the peach-shaped box with coral inlay appears to be carved from red lacquer. But the piece – made specifically to celebrate the birthday of the Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735) – is, in fact, a gold-bodied box with a surface overlaid with red coral. Each fragment of the vivid gemstone is cut and set so precisely that the joins almost disappear, creating a shimmering mottled crimson skin. It is a deliberate exercise in restraint, executed entirely in one medium and, unusually for an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370005/how-qing-dynastys-imperial-workshops-turned-emperors-visions-exquisite-art https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370005/how-qing-dynastys-imperial-workshops-turned-emperors-visions-exquisite-art Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:46:00 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has unveiled the inaugural line-up for its highly anticipated WestK Performing Arts Centre (WestK PAC). The new arts hub, 10 years in the making, is slated to open in summer 2027 and will be marked by an ambitious series of world-class performances. The opening production will premiere the dance drama Wong Fei Hung in July 2027. Inspired by Wong Fei-hung, one of China’s most enduring martial arts legends, the production brings together... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370180/westk-performing-arts-centre-inaugural-line-sees-bruce-lee-ballet-marina-abramovic-work https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370180/westk-performing-arts-centre-inaugural-line-sees-bruce-lee-ballet-marina-abramovic-work Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:21:53 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu As the weather cools in October, it is finally pleasant enough to venture out on weekends, so it is time to trade the indoor hustle for this season’s best offerings. This weekend’s line-up brings together meaningful community events, immersive storytelling and unique local flavours across the city. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. ‘What We Regret Most’ “What We Regret Most” is a community-driven, story-led exhibition that invites people to embrace the messy, awkward and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu The late Singapore-born British artist Kim Lim has recently garnered a much-deserved resurgence of international attention. Following major showcases at Tate Britain in 2020 and the National Gallery Singapore in 2024, the diverse oeuvre of the artist is now on view at Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Hong Kong. Titled “Source”, the exhibition takes its name from her 1988 granite sculpture Source II. Lim specialised in printmaking and sculpture, frequently carving directly from wood or stone to create... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369974/singapore-born-british-artist-kim-lims-legacy-explored-hong-kong-exhibition https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369974/singapore-born-british-artist-kim-lims-legacy-explored-hong-kong-exhibition Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:55:14 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Opened in the 1950s, Sai Woo was a two-storey restaurant in Toronto’s Chinatown, with a traditional Chinese banquet hall on the upper floor. Designed for wedding celebrations, the space featured a canopy with two columns, a golden dragon entwined on one and a phoenix on the other. Lazy Susans sat atop the round banquet tables. Chinatown was also home to Charlie’s Meat and Seafood, a white-tiled butcher shop that opened in 1971. Inside was a glass display case filled with cuts of meat. On the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369543/how-architect-using-art-and-technology-preserve-toronto-chinatowns-history https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369543/how-architect-using-art-and-technology-preserve-toronto-chinatowns-history Sun, 04 Oct 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo The autumn 2026 marquee auctions by Hong Kong’s three international auction houses – Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips – from September 28 to 30 generated more than HK$2 billion (US$255.78 million) in combined totals. This marks a fair increase from the HK$1.3 billion achieved during the spring season, signalling a disciplined market anchored by competitive depth for fresh-to-market works with strong provenance. Christie’s led the series with HK$956.5 million, up 17 per cent year on year,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369448/hong-kong-autumn-2026-art-auctions-top-hk2-billion-kusama-works-get-cool-reception https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369448/hong-kong-autumn-2026-art-auctions-top-hk2-billion-kusama-works-get-cool-reception Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:15:06 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo What happens when two operatic heavyweights – Warren Mok Wah-lun in Western opera and Alis Lin Yingshi in Cantonese opera – meet at an ad hoc music jamming session? “A crossover opera that combines Turandot and The Flower Princess,” says Lora Chow Hiu-ching, a Hong Kong composer and soprano. What began as an informal artistic exchange session quickly evolved into a serious artistic endeavour. Four years later, Chow is fine-tuning acoustics at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, where... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369425/how-westernised-cantonese-opera-sleepless-moon-marries-turandot-and-flower-princess https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369425/how-westernised-cantonese-opera-sleepless-moon-marries-turandot-and-flower-princess Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The National Day “golden week” break is upon us, and with it comes the familiar dread: packed MTR carriages, huge crowds and a slow-moving tide of visitors. But as always, there are several ways to escape the hordes, whether that is trying experimental gelato, practising poolside yoga or checking out an exhibition of Hong Kong’s beloved neon lights. 1. Ciao! Gelato Fest 2026 The city’s first large-scale Italian gelato festival is back at PMQ for another edition, bringing together 20 brands from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3369409/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-2-4 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3369409/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-2-4 Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Tickets to the two opening-week performances of House of Swans, Anne Imhof’s first solo show in Asia, sold out well before its September 25 premiere at Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun heritage and arts centre. That is partly due to the venue’s capacity of 150 visitors per show, but also because the German visual artist, choreographer and performer has a sizeable following across both the art and fashion worlds. At the 2017 Venice Biennale, her transformation of the German Pavilion, adding raised glass... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369317/german-artist-anne-imhofs-hong-kong-show-ambitious-it-disjointed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369317/german-artist-anne-imhofs-hong-kong-show-ambitious-it-disjointed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu London-based fashion designer Katie Ko blurs the line between fashion and fine art, turning unconventional materials such as bamboo strips and preserved flowers into wearable narratives that seemingly defy gravity. Taffeta ruffles and feather-adorned layers explode from Ko’s silk bodices while other pieces evoke the elegance of porcelain. The 26-year-old also pays homage to her hometown, Hong Kong, which she left at 18. She says her 2025 spring/summer collection, “Chrysanthemum Dew”, was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369147/hong-kong-born-london-based-designer-katie-ko-wanted-be-ballet-dancer-what-changed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3369147/hong-kong-born-london-based-designer-katie-ko-wanted-be-ballet-dancer-what-changed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls Georges Bizet’s Carmen is not the only 19th century piece of music crammed with Spanish flair and flavour. A month before the March 1875 premiere of Bizet’s southern Spain-set opera came fellow French composer Edouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole – a brilliant five-movement fiesta for violin and orchestra written for the legendary Spanish violinist, conductor and composer Pablo de Sarasate. Seduction was the word du jour for Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s concert centrepiece on September 26, when... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369131/violin-virtuoso-kevin-zhu-joins-hong-kong-sinfonietta-evening-full-spanish-flair https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369131/violin-virtuoso-kevin-zhu-joins-hong-kong-sinfonietta-evening-full-spanish-flair Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:15:06 +0000 Natasha Rogai Natasha Rogai The Korean wave shows no sign of abating. From K-pop to kimchi, cosmetic brands to television dramas, Korean culture is everywhere. Among the country’s many international exports are outstanding ballet dancers, including St Petersburg-based Mariinsky Ballet’s biggest male star, Kim Kimin, while Seoul is home to three large-scale ballet companies. Yunbyul Ballet Company is a newcomer to the scene, founded in 2022 by artistic director Yun Byul who, like resident choreographer Park So-yun, returned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369064/viral-korean-dance-group-brings-its-high-energy-show-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369064/viral-korean-dance-group-brings-its-high-energy-show-hong-kong Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:15:07 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak After months of speculation, the independent, non-profit art institution Para Site – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – has formally announced its departure from Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island, where it has been based for more than a decade. It will be adopting a fully nomadic model as a response to the evolving arts ecosystem, says its executive director, James Taylor-Foster, who joined Para Site in May. “When Para Site moved into Quarry Bay in 2015, it was a completely different... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369006/hong-kong-art-space-para-site-leave-its-quarry-bay-home-11-years-and-go-nomadic https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3369006/hong-kong-art-space-para-site-leave-its-quarry-bay-home-11-years-and-go-nomadic Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:53:20 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak The grimy basements of underground punk music and the pristine white walls of contemporary art galleries are usually opposing forces of the creative world, but to Janice Laujan – the screaming, growling frontwoman of Hong Kong cult band David Boring – they are simply different mediums through which she gets to “have a public breakdown”. “Performance is the only time I can be completely honest about something and project a very intense part of my personality,” says the Hong Kong artist. “It’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368266/hong-kong-rocker-janice-laujan-her-dark-disturbing-tender-debut-art-show https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368266/hong-kong-rocker-janice-laujan-her-dark-disturbing-tender-debut-art-show Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Out of the backstage shadows, an onnagata – the traditional female role in the Japanese traditional theatre art of kabuki – steals into the light. Her hair is swept high into a voluminous bun, framing a face veiled in a thin layer of porcelain-white powder. Touches of cherry blossom flush across her eyelids and lips. She glides across the starkly lit stage so weightlessly that her steps leave silence behind. With precision, she turns, twirls and looks into the distance, face perfectly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368742/how-one-woman-rewriting-kabukis-all-male-narrative-japan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368742/how-one-woman-rewriting-kabukis-all-male-narrative-japan Sat, 26 Sep 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers, is a form of expression that dates back more than 500 years. It continues to blossom quietly – not only with traditionalists, but also with newcomers who find its blend of creativity and mindfulness to be restorative. Ikebana can be a bit like solving a puzzle, except there is no fixed answer. Because each flower and human individual is different, there are multiple solutions. “There’s a ‘detox’ purifying factor and a healing,” says Hiroyuki Okada,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368755/how-relax-and-detox-through-ikebana-ancient-japanese-art-flower-arranging https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368755/how-relax-and-detox-through-ikebana-ancient-japanese-art-flower-arranging Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker More than three years ago, I articulated concerns regarding the existential threat of artificial intelligence in a piece entitled “How Hong Kong can play a role in preventing AI Armageddon”. There is an increasing number of articles about exactly this. Here I concentrate on a more insidious encroachment on our humanity – how AI is capturing our creative expression and replacing us in a way that is making it harder to discern what is creatively human. As a scientist, my inclination is to filter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3368408/dont-let-ai-take-over-our-human-creative-expression https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3368408/dont-let-ai-take-over-our-human-creative-expression Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Sheryl Chow Sheryl Chow Comprising 100 performers, led by conductor Yan Huichang, “Thousand Reeds, One Universe” was both the beginning and the end. The concert on September 20 was the conclusion of the International Sheng and Reeds Festival 2026 and a successful commencement of the 2026/27 season of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO). Continuing the vision of the festival to forge a borderless world in harmony, the concert brought together a family of reed instruments from around China and the world, including the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368507/traditional-wind-instruments-both-east-and-west-blow-storm-hong-kong-concert https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368507/traditional-wind-instruments-both-east-and-west-blow-storm-hong-kong-concert Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:15:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. All about Hong Kong’s herbal teas and how Gen Z is reviving the health tradition Long before modern chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers were readily available in Hong Kong, there were leung cha: intensely bitter herbal “cooling teas” brewed in massive brass cauldrons in traditional open-front shops. 2. How... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:15:06 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Global theatre producer Crossroads Live UK has announced a worldwide recruitment drive for wigs, lighting and automation roles ahead of an upcoming multi-year world tour of the hit musical Hamilton. According to Crossroads Live’s website, the production “will visit a multitude of territories, starting in Asia in late 2026”, with salaries for the roles to be “discussed upon offer”. Meanwhile, recent social media posts appeared to show screenshots of a Hamilton website listing performance dates in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368600/could-hit-musical-hamilton-be-coming-hong-kong-2027 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368600/could-hit-musical-hamilton-be-coming-hong-kong-2027 Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:52:56 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak A short film depicting an unexpected friendship between a Pakistani tailor and a Hong Kong florist has scooped the top Hong Kong prize at this year’s Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival. Between the Unsaid, produced by Kaneeta Arshad and directed by Qasim Khan, champions integration and how different communities in the city should work and learn together. “We see this very commonly in Hong Kong with our parents or someone who comes from outside Hong Kong,” Khan says. “There’s a communication... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368512/pakistani-made-micro-film-scoops-top-prize-asian-festivals-hong-kong-final https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368512/pakistani-made-micro-film-scoops-top-prize-asian-festivals-hong-kong-final Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:15:05 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Mongolia and heavy metal are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, but folk metal band Uuhai are here to prove the music genre fuses surprisingly well with the nomadic culture’s distinctive vocal and instrumental traditions. Founded in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar in 2020 by drummer and producer Otgonbaatar “Ombo” Damba, the band’s current line-up features Damba, Khurtsgerel Damiranjav (horsehead fiddler and vocalist), Zorigoo Battsooj (horsehead fiddler and throat singer), Saruul... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368469/metal-meets-mongolian-throat-singing-and-instruments-uuhais-hong-kong-debut https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368469/metal-meets-mongolian-throat-singing-and-instruments-uuhais-hong-kong-debut Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo While mass-produced Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns of every size, shape and style can be bought with a single click these days, a dedicated few in Hong Kong are defying the fast consumerism trend by keeping the objects’ traditional craftsmanship alive. Among them is Hong Kong fashion designer and lantern artisan Wan Wong, 52, who spends hours every year crafting traditional bamboo, wire and cellophane lanterns by hand. Lanterns remain a cherished centrepiece of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Southeast... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368319/how-mid-autumn-festival-lanterns-are-traditionally-made-and-artisan-defending-craft https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3368319/how-mid-autumn-festival-lanterns-are-traditionally-made-and-artisan-defending-craft Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:15:04 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service George Lucas and Mellody Hobson want their massive spaceship of a museum to be an experience. Across 300,000 sq ft (27,000 sq metres) and 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of park space, there is a lot to take in. Staring up at the 90-foot (27.4 metre) oculus four storeys above the entrance plaza makes one feel like a speck in the galaxy. Instead of trying to conquer everything at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the first visit – there are more than 1,300 works – maybe focus on some of the highlights... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367839/7-best-attractions-lucas-museum-narrative-art-star-wars-banksy Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:45:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Uzbekistan, with its rich history of ancient Silk Road craftsmanship and later influences from Imperial Russia to the Soviets, is a country shaped by layers of conquest, trade and intellectual exchange. At the Uzbek capital’s new Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA), the inaugural exhibition – titled “Hikmah” and featuring sculptures and installations by 10 artists from around the world, including Palestine and the United States – sets out to explore the complexity of that cultural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368236/uzbekistan-has-brand-new-arts-centre-can-it-rival-dubai-next-global-art-hub Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Vincent Leung Vincent Leung “Photography is a universal language that transcends the barriers of culture and time.” These wise words from Fan Ho perfectly encapsulate the premise of a new exhibition celebrating his poetic camerawork at the Palazzo Falletti di Barolo in Turin, Italy. A Baroque noble residence might not be the first place that comes to mind when looking to discover Ho’s mid-20th century Hong Kong compositions, but the show invites viewers to look beyond the obvious and make connections to those scenes from a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368204/fan-hos-poetic-photos-mid-20th-century-hong-kong-show-unlikely-place https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3368204/fan-hos-poetic-photos-mid-20th-century-hong-kong-show-unlikely-place Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:20:52 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After a wait of almost 1,000 years and a journey of hundreds of miles, the Bayeux Tapestry’s big moment is here. The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England has gone on public display at the British Museum in London this month, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. Tickets have sold out months in advance, and the museum expects 1 million visitors to see the tapestry before the exhibition ends in July 2027. Schoolchildren across the UK will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367798/tapestry-depicting-english-historys-most-important-event-back-uk-after-1000-years Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Patsy Lo has just flown into Hong Kong from Tokyo, where she is now based, and the humidity is doing what humidity does. It is a far cry from Patagonia, where just months ago, Lo and a small arts team from Asia spent days hiking in punishing conditions to shoot Anamnesis II. The 10-minute experimental dance film blends contemporary movement with the raw, unforgiving beauty of the Patagonian Steppe shared by Argentina and Chile. Shot in the shadow of Mount Fitz Roy, the film is the second... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3367846/inspiring-story-hong-kong-dancer-and-filmmaker-who-began-48-after-leaving-apple https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3367846/inspiring-story-hong-kong-dancer-and-filmmaker-who-began-48-after-leaving-apple Sat, 19 Sep 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak As someone who started playing the piano at age two and later trained in violin and singing, Astrid Jorgensen has always had a close relationship with music. Still, something felt off. “I’ve always been a really musical person looking for that outlet of music and creativity, but I didn’t really find it,” says the 36-year-old vocalist and conductor. Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, to a Singaporean-Chinese mother and a father of European descent, Jorgensen emigrated to Australia as a child,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367966/how-astrid-jorgensens-pub-choir-shows-anyone-can-sing-no-auditions-no-judgment https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367966/how-astrid-jorgensens-pub-choir-shows-anyone-can-sing-no-auditions-no-judgment Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Few figures in Qing dynasty (1644-1912) history embody the tragedy of shifting tides quite like Duanfang, a Manchu statesman born in 1861. Duanfang rose through the imperial ranks, earned distinction for his service during the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) and went on to hold major regional posts, such as governor of China’s Hubei province and viceroy of the Liangjiang region. His career took a bizarre turn when he was stripped of his viceroyalty in 1909 for supposedly showing disrespect by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3367584/tragic-qing-dynasty-politician-whose-legacy-lives-descendants-new-novel Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000