For Hongkongers, remembering is an act of resistance.
This month, members of the Hong Kong Action Archives (HKAA), a nonprofit consisting of Hong Kong and Taiwanese community archivists, launched an exhibition called “Ways of Remembering” that aims to explore diverse ways of remembering the city not only for preservation purposes, but also as a means of resistance and imagination, according to organisers.
The exhibition, which was displayed from May 17 to 26 at the Hoxton Arches in London, brings together artefacts from the archives and testimonies from 16 Hong Kong activists that were recorded through the Hong Kong Social Movement Oral History Project, an initiative by overseas scholars to document the city’s social movements since 2019.
“People’s voices are important elements of history,” says Sienna Lau, curator of the exhibition and head of collections at HKAA. “We hope to promote freedom of expression through properly preserving and archiving objects and records related to people, from the dissolved Hong kong civil society groups that was once well established in Hong Kong – their experience, their idea, their thoughts.”
Hosted in collaboration with Amnesty International, Resilience Innovation Lab and The Rights Practice, the exhibition was also a space for community activities, with organisers holding events such as collage and zine workshops, live performances (open mic reading of memories), a book launch by oral historians and a global archivists sharing event organised by Amnesty International UK, Mnemonic and An Việt Archives.
The exhibition was held in an open space, encouraging viewers to move clockwise through Hong Kong’s history. On display are documents and objects that reflect important moments in Hong Kong society, and snippets of memories from those who experienced these pivotal incidents.
The focal point of the exhibition is an interactive map that allows people to share their memories and experiences of Hong Kong, linking these anecdotes to a physical space. Peruse the map, read the entries and submit your own reflections of the city here.
The artefacts, personal stories, and collective memories showcased in the exhibition are from various social movements in the city that have taken place over the past few decades. Many of the civil society groups that participated in these movements have since been dissolved; but are not forgotten.
“Through sharing and displaying their memories along with the major societal incidents Hong Kong, we hope to show a multi-angle perspective of Hong Kong to everyone,” Lau said. “It’s an exhibition of Hongkongers’, as well as the Brits and others linked to Hong Kong…their imagination of the society.”
Learn more about the exhibition and HKAA here. Photo credit: HKAA