No Man’s Land, Hart Haus
What are the charming talismans in your culture? Artist Marian Ang weaves a narrative of the “existential search for luck and fortune” through disconnected objects entwined with the Chinese diaspora. These objects, both markers of tradition and evidence of lives uprooted, are tied to generations of women and experiences of motherhood. Think cheaply printed lunar calendars, chipped mass-produced ceramic plates, antique jewel boxes, and worn-out baby shoes. By exploring material culture through paintings of ordinary objects, the former UNESCO consultant tells stories of identity and belonging. The solo show showcases works created in the HART Studio Programme within the past year.
Where: G/F, HART HAUS, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
When: January 17-February 21, 2026 (By appointment only)
Double Umami 美點雙輝, JPS Gallery
A dynamic duo exhibition by street artist LOUSY and photographer David Leung, Double Umami explores Yum Cha through a humorous lens. Crystalised over two years of discussion, the exhibition is complete with a customised dim sum cart installation and studies in the wrinkles of siu mai—yes you read that right.
In dim sum dishes, David Leung sees faces. Through pareidolia photography—the perception of patterns or faces where there is none—he captures the “overlooked souls” in the folds of dumplings and cracks of egg tarts. Legendary bamboo master Lui Ming (呂明) crafted bamboo steamers which act as frames for Leung’s photos. Meanwhile, LOUSY creates fluorescent drawings on dim sum order sheets, transpoing the clatter and chaos of traditional teahouses to the beating pulse of his playful works.
When: January 30 – March 7, 2026
Where: JPS Gallery Hong Kong G/F, 88 – 90 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong
Edit, WKM Gallery
WKM Gallery and BELOWGROUND, the newly refurbished location in Landmark, jointly present the first solo exhibition by Japanese artist TIDE. Inspired by animations of the 30s to 50s, and manga movies among others, TIDE began teaching himself how to paint while travelling abroad in Australia. The idea for his signature cat character sprang from his daughter’s stuffed animal, typically serving as a symbol of “domestic life, childhood innocence, and the evolving awareness of time”, according to the Gallery.
For this exhibition, the cat returns in this series of monochromatic paintings, a limited-edition print, and a bronze sculpture. What’s different about this exhibition is that the cat is no longer alone. Another character, the small puppy, has reemerged, pushing the cat towards a ‘protector’ role, further exploring the notions of innocence and growing up. TIDE’s artistic approach also takes a turn, as he departs from his instinctive process into a mediated practice that involves revisiting the canvas over extended periods, erasing and reconstructing.
When: January 17-March 7, 2026
Where: 20/F, Coda Designer Centre, 62 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
Second Nature, Villepin
The latest group exhibition at Villepin brings together the works by Hiroshi Nagai, Youjin Yi, and Kenix Liang—three artists who offer distinct perspectives on what feels “natural” in an era of change, instability, and advancements. Their ‘landscapes’ reveal inner worlds—nostalgic, innocent, and resilient—creating ecosystems rooted in emotions.
Hiroshi Nagai’s paintings are akin to postcards —both suspending faraway places in stillness. While Nagai’s scenes evoke a sense of familiarity, further inspection invokes a placelessness that reveals their imaginary qualities. Youjin Yi describes her paintings as a “library of the heart”, which are filled with animals, trees, and water. With a gestural painting language, she intuitively blurs the self and the environment, creating deeply immersive works. Lastly, Kenix Liang magnifies overlooked organisms, revealing realities stemming from coexistence rather than domination.
Where: 53 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
When: February 3-March 8, 2026
Waterfalls And Magpies, Whitestone Gallery
The idea of “perception” takes centre stage in Spanish artist Nuria Mora’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. What sparked her interest was a personal experience of encountering a magpie while taking care of her sick friend. It occurred to her that in Western cultures, a magpie was a sign of bad luck, but in Eastern cultures, it was a symbol of good fortune and auspiciousness. If the magpie was taken as a sign for her friend’s health, outlooks would differ completely depending on one’s perception of the world.
Through geometric abstraction and a range of media, including acrylic, sand, and oil, Mora translated her reflections into vibrant pieces of art. The joyous palette echoes the hopeful tone of the exhibition, encouraging viewers to remain open-minded to different possibilities, embrace cultures, and celebrate the freedom of individual choice.
Where: 7/F, M Place, 54 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang
When: January 31-March 14, 2026
Nine nights; Strange fruit, White Cube
The starting point of London-based artist Shaqúelle Whyte’s latest body of paintings is his grandfather’s premature passing, which occurred before the artist’s birth. “Nine nights” in the exhibition title refers to the Jamaican tradition of funeral wakes that last nine days, a time of both mourning and celebration. Meanwhile, “Strange fruit” borrows from the 1939 poem popularised by Nina Simone, which protests racial violence against African Americans.
The paintings in the exhibition peer into moments of familial grief, loss, love, and memory. Compositions move from public rites to personal mournings, time is elastic throughout, and emotions weigh heavily in this deeply personal exhibition. Funerary rituals are recurring scenes in the exhibition, with coffin bearers appearing in On to the next: the break up (2025), and an open casket dominating the large-scale work, In the shubz (2025).
Where: 50 Connaught Road Central. Hong Kong
When: February 6-March 14, 2026
Play Gravity, Kiang Malingue
There is a palpable volatility to Yirui Jia’s paintings, and it links to her artistic process. Her theatricalised world is constructed intuitively—intuitions are riddled with detours, and surfaces are relentlessly overpainted. For Play Gravity, the US-based artist created more than twenty paintings that evoke playfulness and exuberance; her untamed owls are ready to take flight with every thick and rapid brushstroke, and her mischievous skeletons flail uninhibitedly across the canvas.
Where: 10 Sik On St, Wan Chai
When: January 16-March 14, 2026
Beyond Context, Tang Contemporary Art
Curator Michela Sena presents a group show featuring works by artists from Southeast Asia, analysing their artistic practices and interplay through generational esistemologies—intellectual traditions and conceptual lineage within Southeast Asia. Sena removes the framing of Southeast Asian artists’ works as byproducts of a Western ‘canon’ or supplementary to Western art histories. Instead, she brings to the fore artists of an earlier generation and a younger generation, juxtaposing their respective conceptual terrains. The exhibition features works from 17 artists with roots in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
When: February 6, 2026-March 17, 2026
Where: 5-6/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Editor
Karrie LamCredit
Lead Image: 'Birthed as Treasure' (2026) by Gongkan
