M+ Rover 2020–21 | ‘Yes but Why?' by Wong Tin Yan (Highlights)
Wong Tin Yan is known for his sculptural work made from discarded wooden pallets. He has been an art educator for almost twenty years and also considers his writing for print and online publications and his participation in television as integral parts of his practice. He is a host of the RTHK television programme Artspiration, and the founder of the self-funded art space Form Society. Across his activities, Wong looks beyond conventional materials and situations to find inspiration to create.
Wong graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000. His work is held in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and public and private collections in Hong Kong and overseas. Exhibitions, public art projects, and educational programmes in which he has participated include Charming Tastes and Fragrance: Literature and Visual Arts (House of Hong Kong Literature, 2019), Harbour Arts Sculpture Park (Hong Kong Art Centre, 2018), the Arts Ambassadors-in-school Scheme (Hong Kong Arts Development Council, 2016), The Very Fun Park Contemporary Art Exhibition (Fubonart, Taipei, 2015), and Kwai Tsing Amusement Park and Xinhua Animal Hunt: Sculptures by Wong Tin-yan (Art Promotion Office, 2006). He was recognised at the 40 Under 40 Awards by Perspective magazine in 2010, and received an Entry Prize for commercial interior design at the GDC Awards in 2011.
During the pandemic, artist Wong Tin Yan expanded his work ‘Yes but Why?’ for M+ Rover by creating a series of activities on both online platforms and in physical spaces. These activities have included online workshops and chats, creative videos, in-class activities, and interactive exhibitions. In this video, join Wong Tin Yan as he goes through his M+ Rover highlights and shares behind-the-scenes stories.
Since 2016, M+ Rover, a travelling creative studio and exhibition space, has taken its thematic exhibitions—put together by different collaborators from various fields—around Hong Kong to local schools and community spaces. The free programme provides a platform for teachers, students, and cultural practitioners to engage in creative dialogue as they inspire and learn from one another. This year, the programme has been designed for both primary schools and the public. In response to current health-protection measures, M+ invited Wong Tin Yan to develop a unique set of artist-led activities as well as a series of online educational resources based on his commissioned work ‘Yes but Why?’.
From now until the opening of M+, M+ Rover will be stationed at the Harbourside Deck in the West Kowloon Cultural District on weekends and public holidays. Come on board and join Wong Tin Yan in questioning norms and conventions and exploring alternative perspectives on life. There will be more M+ Rover sessions leading up to the opening of the museum. Visit our website for updates: http://mplus.org/en_publicsessions
M+ Rover
‘Yes but Why?’
by Wong Tin Yan
2020–2021
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M+ Rover 2020–21 | Wong Tin Yan: ‘Yes but Why?’ Dining Experience
Wong Tin Yan is known for his sculptural work made from discarded wooden pallets. He has been an art educator for almost twenty years and also considers his writing for print and online publications and his participation in television as integral parts of his practice. He is a host of the RTHK television programme Artspiration, and the founder of the self-funded art space Form Society. Across his activities, Wong looks beyond conventional materials and situations to find inspiration to create.
Wong graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000. His work is held in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and public and private collections in Hong Kong and overseas. Exhibitions, public art projects, and educational programmes in which he has participated include Charming Tastes and Fragrance: Literature and Visual Arts (House of Hong Kong Literature, 2019), Harbour Arts Sculpture Park (Hong Kong Art Centre, 2018), the Arts Ambassadors-in-school Scheme (Hong Kong Arts Development Council, 2016), The Very Fun Park Contemporary Art Exhibition (Fubonart, Taipei, 2015), and Kwai Tsing Amusement Park and Xinhua Animal Hunt: Sculptures by Wong Tin-yan (Art Promotion Office, 2006). He was recognised at the 40 Under 40 Awards by Perspective magazine in 2010, and received an Entry Prize for commercial interior design at the GDC Awards in 2011.
Continuing in the questioning spirit of the ‘Yes but Why?’ Quiz Show, artist Wong Tin Yan invites four primary school students to visit the ‘Yes but Why?’ restaurant for an unusual dining experience. With hidden cameras set up around the room, the students share their thoughts and doubts about the strange foods and eating utensils on the table, while the artist prompts them to ponder questions such as, ‘To eat, or not to eat?’ and ‘How to eat?’ Making an analogy between ‘eating’ and ‘learning’, the artist encourages viewers to rethink their habits and look for surprising ingredients in everyday life, so that they can cook up a delicious learning experience for themselves.
Teachers can watch together with students during the lesson period or ask students to watch it at home. After watching, teachers can download the M+ Rover Teacher’s Resource Pack on the programme webpage to organise extended classroom activities and bring students a deeper understanding of the artist and his practice.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, M+ Rover has temporarily suspended its tours to local schools and community spaces. To share the programme with teachers, students, and members of the public, we are working with Wong Tin Yan to develop a series of free online learning activities and educational resources based on his work, including a teacher’s resource pack, a conversation between the artist and the curator, and creative videos.
M+ Rover
‘Yes but Why?’
by Wong Tin Yan
2020–2021
My Playlist
Please select the playlist
M+ Rover 2020–21 | Wong Tin Yan: ‘Yes but Why?’ Quiz Show
Wong Tin Yan is known for his sculptural work made from discarded wooden pallets. He has been an art educator for almost twenty years and also considers his writing for print and online publications and his participation in television as integral parts of his practice. He is a host of the RTHK television programme Artspiration, and the founder of the self-funded art space Form Society. Across his activities, Wong looks beyond conventional materials and situations to find inspiration to create.
Wong graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000. His work is held in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and public and private collections in Hong Kong and overseas. Exhibitions, public art projects, and educational programmes in which he has participated include Charming Tastes and Fragrance: Literature and Visual Arts (House of Hong Kong Literature, 2019), Harbour Arts Sculpture Park (Hong Kong Art Centre, 2018), the Arts Ambassadors-in-school Scheme (Hong Kong Arts Development Council, 2016), The Very Fun Park Contemporary Art Exhibition (Fubonart, Taipei, 2015), and Kwai Tsing Amusement Park and Xinhua Animal Hunt: Sculptures by Wong Tin-yan (Art Promotion Office, 2006). He was recognised at the 40 Under 40 Awards by Perspective magazine in 2010, and received an Entry Prize for commercial interior design at the GDC Awards in 2011.
Playing the role of the storyteller, artist Wong Tin Yan shares a story about learning and takes us into a fascinating world. It is a story about a quiz, in which students respond to a whimsical multiple-choice question. Everybody has an unusual and inventive idea—what is right, and what is wrong? Can we always find the answers in textbooks? Wong Tin Yan invites us to join him on a search for fresh and original perspectives.
Teachers can watch together with students during lesson period, or ask students to watch it at home. After watching, teachers can download the M+ Rover Teacher’s Resource Pack on the programme webpage, to organise extended classroom activities and bring students a deeper understanding of the artist and his practice.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, M+ Rover has temporarily suspended its tours to local schools and community spaces. To share the programme with teachers, students, and members of the public, we are working with Wong Tin Yan to develop a series of free online learning activities and educational resources based on his work, including a teacher’s resource pack, a conversation between the artist and the curator, and creative videos.
M+ Rover
‘Yes but Why?’
by Wong Tin Yan
2020–2021