Oi! Art Space Launches New Exhibitions Featuring Local Artists Chan Sai-lok and Inkgo Lam

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations

The Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) will launch two new exhibitions of the "Oi! OnSite" series from tomorrow (November 7). Two local artists, Chan Sai-lok and Inkgo Lam, will showcase the results of their observations in Oi! and its vicinity and their creative outcomes through modern literati painting and bamboo art installations at the century-old warehouses, respectively.

Artist and writer Chan Sai-lok has long been navigating the crossings between visual arts and literary creation and contemplating the deep connections between painting and text. In the "Oi! Onsite: The Stillness Between" exhibition, he uses a Chinese aesthetic perspective and composition, ink art techniques and video to narrate the community stories and urban landscape he discovered around Oi!, drawing visitors' attention to the beauty of everyday life through visual art and text. In addition to the exhibition, Chan will also go beyond the gallery and organise a series of guided tours and workshops from November to February, leading participants to explore Oi! and its surrounding community. Participants are invited to explore his world of paintings, images, videos and words, and discover the ideas behind his artistic creation.

Bamboo artist Inkgo Lam will present her first solo exhibition, "Oi! Onsite: ORGANs". Inkgo is an apprentice to Hong Kong bamboo steamer master Lui Ming. With a vision to preserve and perpetuate this legacy, she aspires to transform bamboo into a vivid artistic language that integrates the aesthetics and artistry of ancient Chinese craftsmanship into contemporary arts. Drawing inspiration from Oi! Warehouse's architectural duality, Inkgo creates five contemporary bamboo sculptures and interactive installations, which represent the five major organs of human body - heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. She made use of the black bamboo cultivated at Oi! in some of her creations, inviting visitors to explore the century-old Oi! Warehouse, and to find out the delicate intersections between architectural space, the human body and paths of existence. Inkgo will also hold a "Bamboo Steamer Making Masterclass" workshop on November 10, where participants will learn the six important traditional steps of steamer craftsmanship and craft a steamer lid themselves. Each participant will receive a steamer base to complete an authentic Guangdong steamer set.

The exhibitions, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by Oi!, will be on display from November 7 to February 9 next year at Oi! Warehouse. For details, please visit the website www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_projects_and_programmes.html or call 2512 3000 for enquiries.

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Families and schools work together to combat "space oil"

The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau met with representatives from the Committee on Home-School Co-operation (CHSC) and the district Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations (FPTAs) yesterday (November 6) to discuss different ways to prevent the emerging drug "space oil" from harming Hong Kong's young people.

During the meeting, representatives from the FPTAs were updated on the latest situation covering the harm of "space oil", including its relationship with e-cigarettes. The ND introduced to the representatives the anti-drug preventive education and publicity (PE&P) programmes in schools, adding that it looked forward to more secondary schools participating in the Healthy School Programme with a Drug Testing Component. The representatives in attendance welcomed more anti‑drug PE&P programmes targeting schools and parents to be carried out by the ND and organisations concerned to raise awareness of and vigilance against "space oil" and other drugs.

The ND also briefed attendees on the prevailing statutory control on etomidate, the main ingredient of "space oil", as well as the Government's proposed legislative amendments for stricter control on the substance. Representatives from the district FPTAs expressed support for the Government's prompt action to list etomidate as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134) to raise the maximum penalty and deterrence.

The ND urges parents to remain vigilant and pay more attention to their children. Possession of any type of alternative smoking product by children, along with unexplained bruises on their limbs, could be a sign of taking "space oil". Parents who need to seek help can send a message to 98 186 186 through the instant messaging platforms of WhatsApp and WeChat, or call the 24-hour hotline 186 186, to obtain information or seek assistance from social workers.

The ND's website (www.nd.gov.hk) contains information about "space oil", and the ND also launched a "space oil" themed animated video in August (www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHQVLgU3wAA). Members of the public are welcome to browse the website. In addition, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre, including the new "space oil" corner therein, located on the roof floor of the Low Block of the Queensway Government Offices, provides various forms of anti-drug knowledge and is open to the public.