Xu Bing /
Eying East, Wondering West — Square Word Calligraphy Classroom /
Mar 26 – Jul 30, 2025 /
The Wing (Lower)
G/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Mondays to Wednesdays and Fridays 10am – 6pm
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10am – 9pm
Free admission
Following Xu Bing’s appointment as Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion in 2024, Xu Bing in Hong Kong: Square Word Calligraphy marks the renowned artist’s inaugural commissioning art initiative in the city. One of the featured programmes of the project is the Eying East, Wondering West — Square Word Calligraphy Classroom exhibition.
Square Word Calligraphy is a form of writing Xu Bing began developing in 1993, in which English is written to resemble Chinese characters. This writing system highlights the interplay between Eastern and Western cultures, aligning with Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural tapestry. This exhibition invites the audience to explore Square Word Calligraphy from three perspectives: “Appreciation”, “Learning” and “Application”, encouraging them to reflect on language and culture, challenges fixed ways of thinking, and sparking creativity through the switching between languages. Xu Bing has especially incorporated Hong Kong’s distinctive linguistic features in the exhibition, further enriching the meaning and interpretation of Square Word Calligraphy and opening up new possibilities for intercultural and interlingual communication.
Throughout the exhibition, the prominent area on the glass canopy at the entrance of the Hong Kong Museum of Art transforms its style, presenting the museum’s name and mission in the form of Square Word Calligraphy, enhanced with interactive augmented reality effects. “Connect Art to People” is one of the missions of the museum, aligning perfectly with Xu Bing’s belief in making art accessible to everyone. Presenting this phrase in the form of Square Words embodies the museum’s curatorial approach, which embraces a wide world of contrasts, from old to new, from East to West.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Art Promotion Office
About the artist
Xu Bing (1955 — ) was born in Chongqing, China, and raised in Beijing. He completed his studies at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing in 1981, after which he joined the faculty. In 1990, he was invited to the United States as an honorary artist and has since received numerous awards in the international art scene, including the MacArthur Fellowship (1999), the Artes Mundi Prize (2004), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Graphics Council (2007) and the Xu Bei Hong ─ Art Creation Award by the CAFA (2018). Recognised internationally as one of the most creative contemporary artists, Xu Bing masterfully blends traditional Chinese culture with contemporary elements. By transcending cultural boundaries and pioneering new perspectives of thinking, he has garnered widespread attention and acclaim. In March 2024, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau appointed Xu Bing as Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion for a term of five years. During his tenure, he is responsible for initiating a series of large-scale art projects in Hong Kong and nurturing young talents to promote cultural development.
