WYNG Masters Award Finalists’ Exhibition – GASP!

The latest World Health Organization findings show that air pollution has led to at least 7 million deaths in 2012 confirming it as a top environmental health risk. In Hong Kong, according to a study in HKU, air pollution has led to well over 3,000 premature deaths, more than 20,000 daily doctors’ visits and a monetary loss of 39 billion HKD in 2013.

The WYNG Masters Award’s mission is to nurture the growth of photography as an art form in Hong Kong, as well as to stimulate dialogue and foster community awareness on socially-relevant issues of critical importance to Hong Kong and its residents. Each year, a focused theme is chosen for the award. The 2013 theme is air—as Hong Kong wrestles with the health, economic, and social effects of its deteriorating air quality. The theme for 2014 will be WASTE.

Two award grants will be issued—the eponymous WYNG Masters Award and the WYNG Project (a commission to develop a photographic project highlighting the 2013 theme air). The recipient of the WYNG Masters Award will receive a cash prize of 250,000HKD and is selected by the judging panel. The WYNG AIR recipient, chosen by the WYNG Foundation trustees, will receive 250,000HKD to execute a project. An advisory board of industry experts will review the WYNG Masters Award finalists and their project proposals and make a recommendation to the foundation trustees.

The WYNG Masters Award Finalists’ Exhibition – GASP! will be held at the School of Design Jockey Club Innovation Tower of Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 4 – 16 May 2014 and the City Gallery from 7 – 19 May 2014. The exhibitions will showcase the works of the seven finalists: Tommy Fung, Gao Ling, Leo Kwok, Lau Ching Ping, Siu Wai Hang, Kurt Tong and Ducky Tse Chi Tak. Student works generated from a series of school workshops based on the theme will also be displayed.

A series of seminars and guided tours will be organized throughout the exhibition period to raise community awareness and discussion on air pollution. A sharing session by students from school workshops and Mobile Garden parade will be held on 17 May at the City Gallery.

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