Hong Kong Art Centre, Wan Chai｜Hong Kong Art Centre Animation Base enters its 20th anniversary. "Animation Art Festival 2025" opens today, presenting Hong Kong's first comics and illustrations-focused art fair

Description

The Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) "Comic Art Festival 2025" kicks off today (July 22)! From today to August 31, the "Anime Art Festival 2025" will bring the public an art festival that combines hand-painted works, anime art, pop culture and cross-media creations. It includes the art fair "Origin: Hand-painted Comics/Illustrations Art Fair" that brings together cross-generational forces, "Kim Jung-gi: Endless Line Journey" a retrospective exhibition of international Korean artist Kim Jung-gi, venue-limited dolls, anime-related products, and various exchange activities, etc., which are not to be missed.

Professor Fung Wing-kee, Chairman of the Arts Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, said: “Hong Kong comics carry the memories of many generations of Hong Kong people. Since its establishment in 2006, Animation Base has been committed to promoting the local animation industry. Through a series of exhibitions and projects, it has created a stage for creators to showcase their talents and opened up channels for exchanges with international talents, allowing local creativity to go global. The Art Fair, held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Animation Base, is a grand gathering for creators across generations, allowing the works of masters and the creations of the new generation to be presented to the public at once, and jointly witnessing the inheritance of local hand-painted art. At the same time, we will bring comics lovers the world's first exhibition of the late international Korean artist Kim Jung-gi, "Kim Jung-gi: Journey of Endless Lines", which will comprehensively display his creative career in mid-August. It will surely become a hot topic in society.”

More than 60 local cartoonists and illustrators gathered to showcase their irreplaceable warmth and appeal

"Origin: Hand-drawn Comics/Illustrations Art Fair" is held at the Jockey Club Gallery on the basement to the fourth floor of the center, and the Zhang Jinglan Experimental Gallery on the third floor. It is the first art fair focusing on local comics and illustrations, bringing together more than 60 comics and illustrators. Through traditional media such as pencils and ink, they show irreplaceable appeal and warmth in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and computer editing, and use their brushstrokes to resonate across generations. Comics and illustration enthusiasts can also purchase the paintings on display, making them a unique collection! 27 invited creators will join more than 30 creations that stand out from the open call for submissions to bring more than 150 hand-painted works, including classics by world-class masters as well as hand-painted works by emerging creators and students. They are full of humor, memories and dreams, witnessing the evolution and rich and diverse appearance of Hong Kong hand-painted art, and once again reaffirming the mission of the "Animation Base" to cultivate talents and promote animation art. In order to record this grand event, the organizers specially compiled many hand-painted works of more than 60 exhibitors into a book and published it as a special issue of "Origin: Hand-painted Comics/Illustrations Art Fair", which will be sold in limited quantities during the exhibition.

Prudence Mak, Senior Consultant of Hong Kong Art Centre (Comic Base) and curator of Origin: Hand-drawn Comics/Illustrations Art Fair, said: “In the digital age, people can easily generate flawless images through technology, but we still miss the imperfections of hand-drawings, because every stroke shows the creator’s extremely delicate thoughts and years of craftsmanship. I hope that this exhibition can lead the public to return to the basics and re-experience the power of hand-drawing. At the same time, it will review and summarize the development of local comics and illustrations in modern times, building on the past and ushering in the future, and moving forward together into the next ten or twenty years.”

Highlights - Retrospective of international Korean artist Kim Jung-ki | Large-scale hand-painted works exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time

In addition to showcasing the charm of local original creations, the Centre also curated the finale “Kim Jung-gi: A Journey of Endless Lines”, which reviews the wonderful journey of this late Korean comic and illustration artist from his early creations to international live drawing performances. The exhibition brings together more than 200 precious exhibits, including comic originals, illustrations, sketches and cross-border collaboration projects, fully presenting his free and unrestrained artistic universe with distinctive style. Mr. Jin is internationally renowned for his large-scale impromptu paintings. This exhibition is the world's first major exhibition to comprehensively display his creative career, and the number of exhibits is the largest ever. "Jinfen" is definitely not to be missed!

Launching venue-limited doll blind boxes to extend the charm of anime to the community

"Comic Art Festival 2025" has also launched venue-limited dolls with 5 of the star participating creators, allowing their wonderful characters to meet the public with a brand new look, including Mu Jiji by Lai Tat Tat Wing, the old girl by Stella So, Ma Shan by Li Zhida, the girl with eye bags by Isatisse, and Fatina by Prudence Mak. They will also be sold randomly in the form of surprise blind boxes (HK$138 each). During the event, the five limited edition dolls will be transformed into 16-inch-tall installations and exhibited in different corners of the venue, allowing the public to appreciate the creators’ hard work up close.

A series of surprise activities to satisfy comic fans of different ages

In addition to the above-mentioned exciting exhibitions and IP projects, the "Anime Art Festival 2025" has also carefully planned a series of heavyweight surprise activities, including art pop-up stores, limited-time anime theme stores, live painting demonstrations, autograph sessions, sharing sessions, workshops, little docent programs, public guided tours, etc. Details will be announced in due course, and it is definitely worth looking forward to.

Art Fair - exhibiting about 150 hand-drawn works by 60 local comics and illustrators, including classic works by world-class masters as well as hand-drawn works by emerging creators and students.

Date: July 22 to August 31, 2025

Location: Hong Kong Art Centre, Hong Kong Jockey Club Galleries, G/F to 4/F, and Chang Ching Lan Experimental Gallery, 3/F

Limited-time anime theme store - sells a series of limited-edition peripheral products based on different anime works.

Date: July 22 to September 30, 2025

Venue: G/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Pop-up Art Store

Date: August 13-31, 2025

Venue: Hong Kong Arts Centre, G/F to 4/F Lobby

Kim Jung-gi: A Journey of Endless Lines: A retrospective of international Korean artist Kim Jung-gi | Large-scale hand-painted works exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time

The late Korean internationally renowned comics/illustrators Kim Jung-ki's large-scale solo exhibition in Hong Kong, displaying his hand-painted and sketches from different periods

Date: August 14-31, 2025

Location: Pao Gallery, 4/F-5/F, Hong Kong Art Centre

fare:

· Special offer ticket price HK$68* (from now to August 31)

Children 10 years old or under are admitted free of charge

Early bird discount (now to August 12)

Tickets: HK$78

· Tickets for two people are HK$138

Exhibition special publication HK$380 (with a folder containing Kim Jung-gi’s paintings)

Regular price (August 13 to August 31)

·  Monday to Friday full price tickets HK$98

Saturday to Sunday: Full-price ticket HK$128 (with a folder with Kim Jung-gi’s paintings, limited quantity, while stocks last)

*Applicable to full-time students, seniors aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their caregivers, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Holders of discounted tickets must present valid identification or age proof upon entry.

Buy Tickets

Micro Skateboard Design Exhibition and Experience Event

This summer, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comic Base) will present three special events with different styles and full of creativity. Whether you are a comic fan, skateboard enthusiast, or creator, you can’t miss them!

Date and time: July 22, 2025, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

5:30pm to 9:30pm, August 13, 2025

Location: G/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Over 40 original skateboard designs are on display, a paradise for mini skateboard fans! Experience the techniques of fingerboarding first-hand and explore how designers transform street culture into pocket-sized art, allowing each skateboard to tell a story.

Director Kim Hyunjin x Monk Man Sharing Session - The Master in My Eyes - Kim Jung-gi

Date and time: 16 August 2025, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Location: Pao Gallery, 5/F, Hong Kong Art Centre

Director Kim Hyun-jin of the Kim Jung-gi Art Museum is an important partner of Korean master Kim Jung-gi. Director Kim will appear to share how he and this Korean artist became famous around the world. Hong Kong cartoonist Man Seng is a "gold fan" and he also talks about the extraordinary charm of this international master. Whether you are interested in art or Korean culture, this sharing will surely inspire you!

Comics/IP and illustration creation sharing——Isabelle and Prudence

Date and time: 17 August 2025, 3:30pm to 4:45pm

Location: Ho Hung Chang Rehearsal Studio, LG/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Isabelle /Prudence, a painter loved by comic fans, will be present to share her creative process and sources of inspiration. From lines to colors, she will reveal the emotions and narrative techniques behind her works, and explore the diverse possibilities of comics/IP with the audience.