Artificially Natural: Experiments for Hong Kong’s Wetland Ecology

The natural is not always as natural as we first perceive. Thriving habitats supporting diverse biodiversity often camouflage past histories of change resulting from urbanization and industrialization. What appears natural is actually a complex interplay between human stewardship and biological processes. This condition exists in the wetland ecology located at Hong Kong’s border area with mainland China, which is currently being pulled between the opposing forces of conservation and development.

However, are conservation and development mutually exclusive? Is it possible to attract people to the landscape without having a detrimental impact on the existing ecology?.

In response, we have designed a series of devices that enhance the current fishpond operations to future-proof the wetland ecology from further degradation. At San Tin, we have built three support structures that harness solar energy to power ecological machines that assist aging operators to make their work less labour intensive. The exhibition demonstrates these design ideas, and the difficulty of realising the project, in this contradictory, yet unique zone.

Public Workshop:

As part of the exhibition, we invite the public to join us for a workshop where we will apply the montage of images to collectively view, represent, and project the past, present, and future of the fishponds.

Click here for the workshop registration link (Deadline 4 Feb 2025, first come first served basis)

Normal Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Opening Reception: 7 February 2025 (Fri), 6:00 PM

Public Workshop: 9 February 2025 (Sun), 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM