Hong Kong will send two artists, Angel Hui and Kingsley Ng, to represent the special administrative region at the 2026 Venice Biennale, marking the first time a duo has been selected. The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) are collaborating for the first time on the presentation, which will take place at the Campo della Tana as a collateral event. Hui, a gongbi ink painter born in 1991, and Ng, a media artist and associate professor born in 1980, will explore "the poetic rhythms of daily life" in dialogue with the Biennale's main exhibition theme, "In Minor Keys." The selection follows HKADC's decision in April to oust M+ museum as the exhibition's organizer, a role it had held since 2013, without citing a reason.
The dual selection is significant because it reflects two strategic goals of the Hong Kong government: promoting traditional Chinese culture through Hui's ink painting and integrating art and technology through Ng's media art. The change in organizational leadership—from M+ to HKMoA and HKADC—also signals a shift in how Hong Kong's representation at the Venice Biennale is managed, following criticism over past selection processes. With over 200 artists nominated and a selection panel including prominent figures from Chinese and international art institutions, the choice underscores Hong Kong's evolving cultural diplomacy and its balancing act between tradition and innovation on the global stage.