Chan Hau Chun's 'Map of Traces' at Empty Gallery explores memory and resistance in Hong Kong
The exhibition 'Map of Traces' by Chan Hau Chun is set to take place at Empty Gallery in Hong Kong from June 7 to August 30, 2025. This showcase includes a 30-minute black-and-white documentary film created in 2025, which tells the story of an elderly man who was arrested for spray-painting the Chinese character for mourning. Now, he employs water to create temporary symbols of quiet defiance. Born in the late 1980s and having moved from Guangdong at the age of 12, Chan explores themes surrounding marginalized communities. The film interweaves personal and collective memories through handwritten letters and protest footage, enhanced by field recordings, and stands in contrast to works like 'May You Stay Forever Young' (2021) and 'Blue Island' (2022).
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Map of Traces' runs June 7–Aug 30, 2025
- Held at Empty Gallery in Hong Kong
- Features a 30-minute black-and-white experimental documentary film from 2025
- Highlights an elderly man who used water to leave temporary marks after graffiti arrests
- Chan Hau Chun migrated from Guangdong to Hong Kong at age 12
- Chan's earlier work includes the 2013 'Under the Bridge' photography series
- Film includes Google Street View recordings, protest footage, and field sounds
- Contrasts with protest-themed films 'May You Stay Forever Young' (2021) and 'Blue Island' (2022) screened outside Hong Kong
Entities
Artists
- Chan Hau Chun
Institutions
- Empty Gallery
- ArtAsiaPacific
Locations
- Hong Kong
- China
- Guangdong
- London
- United Kingdom