For Immediate Release – Hong Kong
HKwalls, Hong Kong’s premier street art festival, is thrilled to announce its 10th annual celebration, taking place from March 22 to 30, 2025, in the Central and Western Districts. Kicking off the nine-day festival, British artist Matt Hope will debut his latest work, Hong Kong Wall, an innovative sound system installation at the festival’s opening party on March 22 at the PMQ Courtyard. This milestone event will bring together local and international artists to transform the city’s streets with vibrant murals, exhibitions, workshops, and more, continuing HKwalls’ legacy of fostering creativity and community engagement through public art.
“The Hong Kong Wall is my public art installation, a public speaker wall that DJs and sound artist’s pump sound through while Graffiti writers paint in realtime,” says artist Matt Hope, based in Guangzhou since 2020. “Part installation and part public spectacle, it is a syncing of speakers and spray cans. It sets the stage for local artists to collaborate, making an autobiographical portal into activities now disbanded.”
The Hong Kong Wall installation consists of eight foam sound panels wired with electronics, each functioning as both an acoustic element and a canvas. During the opening party on March 22, renowned graffiti writers invited to the festival will live-tag the panels while DJs channel live sound through them, creating a multisensory experience that blends music, art, and urban culture. This interactive approach aligns with Hope’s signature style of transforming industrial materials into dynamic works that engage environmental forces and human interaction, a practice he has honed through projects like Breath (2012) and Horn Massive (2005).
“We’re incredibly excited to have Matt Hope bring his visionary approach to HKwalls’ 10th anniversary,” says Jason Dembski, co-founder of HKwalls. “The Hong Kong Wall embodies the festival’s mission to push boundaries, connecting artists and the community through bold, accessible art forms that resonate on multiple levels.”
Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s bustling art month, the Hong Kong Wall will serve as a centerpiece for the festival’s opening, inviting attendees to witness the intersection of sound and street art in real time. The installation will remain on display at the PMQ Courtyard throughout the festival, offering visitors a chance to experience its evolving visual and auditory layers. This project not only highlights Hope’s innovative use of materials but also underscores HKwalls’ commitment to showcasing groundbreaking public art that sparks dialogue and creativity.
“Matt’s ability to fuse technology, sound, and social commentary into a single work is remarkable,” says Redelle Lee, Director of Oui.Gallery, a long-time supporter of Hope’s projects. “The Hong Kong Wall is a testament to how art can transform spaces and bring people together, especially in a city as vibrant as Hong Kong.”
For more information about HKwalls 2025 and the Hong Kong Wall installation, visit HKwalls.org. Join us at the PMQ Courtyard on March 22, 2025, from 12 PM to 8 PM to experience the opening party and witness this unique collaboration come to life.
About Matt Hope
Matt Hope, born in 1976 in Hammersmith, London, is a British artist known for his kinetic and sound-based sculptures, currently based in Guangzhou, China. He studied at Chelsea School of Art (1994–1996), earned a BFA from Winchester School of Art in 1999, and an MFA from the University of California, San Diego in 2004. Moving to Beijing’s Caochangdi district in 2008, he later settled in Guangzhou in 2020. Hope’s work re-purposes industrial materials—speakers, solar panels, vehicles, and steel—into electromechanical installations that engage environmental forces and human interaction, often exploring perception, energy, and entropy with social commentary. His early career crafting sound systems for England’s electronic music scene informs his technical approach. Notable works include Breath (2012), a pollution-filtering bicycle, and Horn Massive (2005), a sound sculpture. Exhibiting globally, from Shanghai’s Power Station Art Museum to Beijing’s UCCA, Hope reimagines industrial objects, solidifying his status as a contemporary sculpture innovator.
About HKwalls
HKWalls, founded in 2014 by Jason Dembski and Maria Wong, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting street art and culture in Hong Kong and beyond. Each March, during Hong Kong’s art month, HKWalls hosts an annual street art festival, transforming neighborhoods like Central, Sai Kung, and Sham Shui Po into vibrant open-air galleries. The festival invites local and international artists to create murals, fostering creativity, cultural exchange, and community engagement through public art. Beyond the festival, HKWalls offers year-round programming, including workshops, exhibitions, and youth mentorship initiatives, to support artists’ career development and raise social awareness. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, HKWalls continues to champion originality and freedom of expression, having collaborated with global brands like Vans and showcased artists such as Bao Ho and Xeme. By bridging street art with digital innovation, HKWalls redefines public spaces, making art accessible to all while pushing the boundaries of urban creativity.
About Oui.Gallery
Oui.Gallery, an innovative art gallery, champions emerging artists through dynamic exhibitions across the Greater Bay Area and Mississippi River Basin. Established to bridge cultural landscapes, it showcases contemporary works that push artistic boundaries, fostering connections between regions like Hong Kong and Saint Louis. The gallery is known for its bold curatorial approach, spotlighting talents such as Matt Hope, whose sound-based installations like Hong Kong Wall (2025) redefine public art engagement. Oui.Gallery’s exhibitions, including the Speaker Show and Arlene Creates, emphasize experimental mediums—graffiti, spray paint, and courtroom sketches—while supporting diverse voices like Sushil Jey and Tallulah Mathews. With a mission to make art accessible, the gallery hosts annual shows, such as its 2024 group exhibition at Selkirk’s Auction House, curated by De’joneiro Jones celebrating the life and work of Arlene Rosengarten. Oui.Gallery continues to inspire collectors and communities, cultivating a global dialogue through art that challenges conventions and celebrates creativity.
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