Two December events showcase the city’s alternative culture — local bands, international acts, exhibitions and installations — in equally creative venues.
As Hong Kong awaits the completion of a 21.6 billion Hong Kong dollar arts complex along Victoria Harbour, filled with grand opera halls, intimate black box theatres, exhibition spaces and more, two upcoming free events will help arts lovers bide their time: Clockenflap, an outdoor indie music and arts fest, and Detour, a two-week-long art and design showcase.
Founded in 2007, Clockenflap (10 to 11 December) is back after last year’s hiatus, when it had a hard time finding a venue. For this year’s event, organizers have secured the empty plot of waterfront land currently earmarked for the yet-to-be-completed arts complex — a fitting way to take advantage of a stagnant space. Headlining the stage are British rockers Bombay Bicycle Club, US crooner Santigold and new wave/punk act The Cribs. Committed to showcasing Hong Kong talents as well as international acts, the festival will feature local bands such as Supper Moment, Noughts and Exes, DP and 9 Maps. You will also find film screenings, visual art installations and a market.
Annual art and design confab Detour (25 November to 11 December) is taking over an atmospheric building that used to serve as living quarters for police officers’ families. This year’s theme is the effect of irresponsible consumerism, and the line-up of creative concepts — a host of exhibitions, installations, live performances, conferences, workshops and forums — touches on the topic in various ways. Learn to silkscreen, build a pinhole camera or make your own soap at one of the many workshops. One innovative exhibition teaches you how to create electricity by riding a bicycle, and the participants will power a cinema system with screens mounted around the festival. Exhibitions range from a scrapbook of one woman’s life to works by handbag designers to photography, sculpture and multimedia pieces.