“How to Be Happy Together” Exhibition Explores Human Connection at Para Site

The exhibition “How to Be Happy Together” at Hong Kong’s Para Site pays homage to Wong Kar-wai’s 1997 film Happy Together. The movie, which follows a turbulent romance between two men from Hong Kong in Argentina, serves as the inspiration for this multi-artist show. Curated by Xiang Zairong, the exhibition explores themes of human connection, migration, and intimacy, extending beyond a mere retelling of the film.

The show addresses historical and cultural differences in the context of human relationships, reflecting the broader significance of Happy Together. Xiang notes that the film’s release coincided with the handover of Hong Kong to China, a period of transition and uncertainty. The exhibition further touches on the experience of homelessness among economic migrants, especially those from East and Southeast Asia who have settled in Latin America. Today, over four million Latin Americans claim East Asian ancestry, with a significant number of Brazilians of Chinese descent.

One of the standout works in the exhibition is Orelhão, created by Shanghai-born Brazilian architect Chu Ming Silveira. This piece reinterprets the 1972 design for Brazil’s public telephone booths, a design that became widely used internationally, including in China. Xiang explains that Silveira’s work exemplifies how necessity and innovation can converge, creating something functional yet aesthetic.

Another compelling work is Ordinary Affects by Zhou Xiaopeng and Tang Han, a two-channel video that examines the evolving relationship between a young Chinese artist and an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s. The bond they form reflects intimacy beyond romanticism, touching on class, age, and the immigrant experience.

The exhibition also features Fireflies (Lucciole) by French artist Pauline Curnier Jardin and the Feel Good Cooperative, a collective of Colombian transgender sex workers. This video installation, partly hidden behind a mirror, illuminates the lives of these marginalized women, empowering them with a mystical, otherworldly glow as they navigate the streets of Rome.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is Juntitud by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas, who uses found objects to create a sculptural installation reflecting the resourcefulness of marginalized communities. Like the residents of Ajusco, Cruzvillegas’s piece symbolizes how disparate elements can come together despite their differences.

Overall, How to Be Happy Together offers a thought-provoking look at human connections, the impact of migration, and the ways in which individuals and communities find unity in challenging circumstances.

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