Culture

Golden Scene Cinema, which opened in Kennedy Town at the beginning of 2021, screens a mix of independent films, studio hits, restored Asian classics and retrospectives. For founder Winnie Tsang, it is a “dream come true”. Having her own cinema allows the film-industry veteran to show the titles that she wants to see, rather than worrying about maximising ticket sales. Tsang has spent her entire career in film distribution and production, starting in the early 1980s as a secretary at one of Hong Kong’s most famous film-production companies. Working her way up to board director, she left in 1998 and founded her own distribution company, Golden Scene. Since then, Tsang has been involved in making more than 600 titles. Horror films brought her early commercial success but she now looks to produce films with “a good heart”. Film credits over the past decade have included the award-winning The Way We Dance, Still Human and Mad World. 
goldenscene.com

Contemporary art gallery Kiang Malingue had already established itself as a key player in the Hong Kong art scene when it opened a second outpost in Wan Chai in 2022. For the new space on Sik On Street, Hong Kong-based Beau Architects transformed a six-storey building into a striking four-floor gallery. The aim of the design was to provide “a more domestic setting, inviting people to spend time with the art but also with the owners,” says Edouard Malingue, who co-founded the gallery with his wife, Lorraine Kiang.
kiangmalingue.com

WKM Gallery occupies the 20th floor of an industrial building in Wong Chuk Hang on the south side of Hong Kong Island. “There are about 20 galleries here now and that does not include artists’ studios,” says founder William Kayne Mukai. The Japanese-French gallerist moved to Hong Kong from Tokyo in 2015. After working at two international galleries, he opened the institution under his name in 2023. Japanese architect Koichi Futatsumata worked closely with Mukai to select the right space. Futatsumata’s design makes good use of the building’s high ceilings and scenic views of mountains and the sea. “We wanted to keep the features of the industrial building while bringing in some of those minimalist Japanese design elements,” says Mukai. Japan will feature strongly in WKM Gallery’s initial exhibitions but other international artists will also be showcased, starting with Taiwan and the US. 
wkm.gallery

Tucked behind Admiralty, near the British Consulate and Island Shangri-La hotel, the Asia Society is a sanctuary within the city. On a site where the British army once housed ammunition, this outpost of the New York-based educational institution is a rare example of architectural preservation in Hong Kong. 

Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the centre opened in 2012 and incorporates four historic military buildings as part of a multi-tier compound that folds into the foothills of Hong Kong Island’s steep peak. Exhibitions ranging from Caravaggio to contemporary Southeast Asian artists have been shown and regular performances and screenings are mounted. Even if you’re not sure what’s on, head up to take in the views from the peaceful rooftop garden. Or grab a meal at restaurant Ammo.
9 Justice Drive
+852 2103 9511
asiasociety.org/hongkong

Established in 2004, Osage has become a major platform for exhibiting and promoting Asian contemporary arts over the past decade. Works by artists from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand are regularly shown in addition to international artists of Asian descent. Through exhibitions and research, founder and director Agnes Lin looks to explore cross-cultural relationships between different countries in Asia as well as the region’s global identity. 

Set in the up-and-coming district of Kowloon East, Osage is among the largest gallery spaces to be found in the city. The raw warehouse unit shows work across multiple disciplines including performance, installations and interactive multimedia.
4F, Union Hing Yip Factory Building, 20 Hing Yip Street
+852 2793 4817
osagegallery.com