“Green Snake: Women-centred Ecologies” Exhibition in Hong Kong

The “Green Snake: Women-centred Ecologies” exhibition at Tai Kwun Contemporary in Central, Hong Kong, presents a bold and insightful exploration of the interconnectedness of global environmental issues and exploitative economics. This major art exhibition, featuring over 60 works from artists across 20 countries, highlights the significant role of indigenous knowledge and women’s experiences in shaping alternative, sustainable ways of living and caring for the environment.

The exhibition is named after an eighth-century Chinese folktale called “Madame White Snake,” with the green snake representing women’s agency, sisterhood, and gender fluidity. The title also serves as a metaphor for nature’s regenerative powers. The curators aim to present alternative human-nature relationships, moving away from the dominant Western economic developmental model.

The exhibition showcases a diverse range of artistic expressions, with many artists hailing from countries less represented in mainstream art and media. This includes artists from Nepal, Ecuador, Colombia, South Africa, China, and Hong Kong. Jaffa Lam’s work, representing Hong Kong, draws inspiration from the powers of Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea.

One notable piece is Argentinian artist Adriana Bustos’ “Pejerreina” (2023), a human-sized mud sculpture depicting the oppression and cultural sanitization indigenous communities face. Stephanie Comilang and Simon Speiser’s “Piña, Why is the Sky Blue?” (2021) is a virtual-reality video that transcends the immediate impact of colonialism, showcasing how indigenous women transform narratives of colonization.

This exhibition is part of Tai Kwun’s commitment to addressing urgent global issues. It is one of the most ambitious shows presented by Tai Kwun, exploring the link between ecology and feminism in the context of the ecological crisis.

The works in the exhibition respond to the systemic crisis of our time, challenging the anthropocentric worldview and seeking to reanimate suppressed knowledge. The Asian Feminist Studio for Art and Research (AFSAR) contributes with “Proxy Conference: In Forest” (2023), a video that proposes a new model for discussion and engagement, decentralizing the conventional format dominated by state and male perspectives.

“Green Snake: Women-centred Ecologies” is more than an art exhibition; it’s a critical conversation about our ecological future and the role of diverse, often marginalized, perspectives in shaping it. By interweaving ecological awareness with feminist approaches, the exhibition opens up new pathways for understanding and addressing the environmental challenges we face today.

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