1112

In November 2019, police and students violently clashed at Koon Wai Bong’s alma mater, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In this work, the artist uses a light installation to depict the fire and tear gas deployment as a reminder of the events and drama involving all the students, parents, government officials, and law enforcement in that fateful autumn month. Starting on November 12, the 1112 clash remains one of the most impactful moments in the lives of Hong Kong’s young intellectuals, especially those who care for freedom of speech and expression. The long inscriptions detail the unfolding events in an almost prophetic tone yet without blatant judgments. Opting for a neutral tone, the artist invites viewers to comprehend the event from their perspectives and to form their own judgments.

“Aware that oppression can be located both in the story told and in the telling of the story.”
—Trinh T. Minh-ha, When the moon waxes red, 1991

English translation of the original inscription