The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(Guangzhou), has launched the SURREALITY Mixed Reality (MR) × Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Art Cross-City Exhibition. As part of HKUST's 35th-anniversary celebrations, the world's first large-scale, cross-regional MR × AI digital art exhibition debuted at the Clear Water Bay campus, showcasing selected works by renowned international and Chinese Mainland digital artists, as well as faculty and students from both campuses. The exhibition integrates creativity with Virtual Reality (VR), MR, and AI technologies, transforming the campus into a global hub for arts innovation and technological excellence.
The exhibition will open at HKUST(GZ) on June 17 and run through July 31, 2026, before returning to Hong Kong for public engagement. This initiative exemplifies HKUST's commitment to driving cultural mobility and fostering international exchange through innovative technologies. Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, emphasized that the event marks a major milestone in integrating technology, humanities, and cross-regional innovation, aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan's support for Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. She also referenced the HKSAR Government's Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development and HKUST's Strategic Plan 2031, which identifies the integration of innovation and the humanities as a key direction.
Prof. Lionel NI Ming-Shuan, President of HKUST(GZ), noted that SURREALITY showcases the strengths of both campuses in interdisciplinary studies and computational creativity, bringing together artists and young creators from 23 countries and regions. The digital 'Portal' connecting Clear Water Bay and Nansha embodies a forward-looking model of educational collaboration, where engineering converges with aesthetics, algorithms with poetry, and global vision with local engagement. The exhibition features nearly 50 works by more than 70 digital artists from countries including the United States, Germany, Russia, Australia, Bolivia, Singapore, Korea, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong.
At the Clear Water Bay campus, 19 selected works premiered, transforming the campus into an immersive, technology-driven art space. Visitors wearing MR headsets can explore three exhibition areas: Living Currents, Future Fables, and Beyond Mind. Highlights include The Gate, a metaverse concept piece that allows visitors to traverse virtual spaces of both campuses, embodying the vision of 'One HKUST, Complementary Campuses.' Another featured work, Kunpeng, depicts a giant fish leaping from Port Shelter and transforming into a soaring roc. The Twinworld Tree creates a dynamic living system symbolizing interdependence. The exhibition also features an MR recreation of GFP Bunny by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Prof. Eduardo KAC, sparking reflection on genetic modification and bioethics.
Mr. ZHANG Yishuai, a PhD student at HKUST(GZ), presents Echoes of Earth 2.0, offering a forward-looking perspective on AI and interstellar civilizations. VR digital art pieces include Astra by Ms. Eliza MCNITT, a Venice Immersive Grand Prize winner, and Mother's Body Remembers by Mr. Benedict YU from Singapore. The HKUST XRIM Lab's Unfolding Touch enables a soft-robot-mediated handshake between campuses. Prof. Pan HUI, Chair Professor at HKUST and Director of the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(GZ), explained that SURREALITY explores a new form of reality where the virtual and physical are no longer separate, prompting reflection on how technology reshapes humanity's understanding of reality.
