Jay Lau: Incising the Matrix: If Birdwood Block

Artist Jay Lau, an artist-in-residence at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, presents an exhibition inspired by the history of Victoria Barracks, the former site of Hong Kong Park. Lau constructs a parallel reality where Birdwood Block, a long-lost twin building to Cassels Block, was never demolished. The exhibition uses "incising" as a method to explore historical archives and images, transforming their cracks into new narratives. Lau utilized archival photos and AI generation technology to fabricate scenes of Birdwood Block across various timeframes, presenting them as prints and installations throughout the Visual Arts Centre. This invites visitors to rediscover the forgotten past of the historic building, imagine possibilities at pivotal historical moments, and reflect on the nature of historical truth.