Speakers: Dr. Wu Mo (Sigg Curator, M+), Professor Fan Lin (Professor at the School of Arts and Humanities of GAFA, Curator)
Moderator: Zoie Yung (Curator, Art Central 2026)
Conducted in Mandarin
Taking works by Guangdong artists in the M+ Sigg Collection as a point of departure, Dr Wu Mo and Professor Fan Lin will examine the artistic ecosystems of the South that sit outside the mainstream canon of contemporary art history. Beginning with the seminal project Canton Express (2017), the discussion will analyse how artists have ingeniously navigated and filled the gaps beyond formal institutional structures. Through independent spaces, pedagogical experiments, and grassroots interactions, these practitioners have woven a local identity deeply rooted in the textures and vitality of everyday life.
The conversation seeks to challenge the rigid exhibition frameworks of large institutions, bringing to light the informal exchanges and “unofficial histories” embedded within archival research. By reflecting on Hong Kong’s role as a vital landing point for Southern art, the speakers will consider how museums can foster authentic, sustained dialogue with the region’s living, breathing artistic communities.
Image: Dr. Wu Mo (left); Professor Fan Lin (right). Courtesy of the speakers.
