Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) in Hong Kong has opened the exhibition "Eying East, Wondering West - Square Word Calligraphy Classroom on the Move," featuring world-renowned artist Xu Bing. Running from September 29, 2025 to January 11, 2026, the show transforms the Oi! Glassie venue into an interactive classroom where visitors can learn and write Xu Bing's Square Word Calligraphy (Hong Kong Edition). The exhibition includes a specially designed textbook inspired by local student exercise books, brushes and copybooks, interactive digital installations, and workshops on seal carving and fan design. It was previously held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art and is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, organized by the Art Promotion Office and Oi!.
This exhibition matters because it brings a globally influential contemporary artist's participatory art project directly into a neighborhood art space, bridging high-concept art with community engagement. Xu Bing, appointed Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion in March 2024, uses his signature Square Word Calligraphy to merge Eastern and Western writing systems, making the work accessible to a broad public. By situating the classroom in a transparent glass venue, the show invites passers-by to observe and participate, reinforcing the role of public art in fostering cultural exchange and local connection.