Cha Chaan Teng Encyclopedia - The Invisible Design Exhibition - exhibition Event in Hong Kong - Image 1
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Cha Chaan Teng Encyclopedia - The Invisible Design Exhibition

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AIRSIDE GATE33 Art Space, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak

About

Hong Kong's iconic cha chaan teng (tea restaurants) have been woven into the daily fabric of local life for generations. The design elements associated with these establishments have evolved into significant symbols of local culture, gaining widespread popularity both locally and internationally through retro-inspired designs and cultural products in recent years. Yet this widely recognized cultural symbol remains simultaneously familiar and foreign to Hong Kong people—familiar because cha chaan teng dining and spaces have become internalized as part of Hong Kong identity, yet foreign because this very closeness often causes us to overlook the extensive cultural context that shapes it. AIRSIDE GATE33 Art Space, dedicated to cultivating local culture, breaks from traditional group exhibition frameworks this 'Art March' by inviting architectural historian and architect Charles Lai (UK) and product designer and community engagement planner Kay Chan Wan Ki to present this exhibition through a 'research-based curation' approach. The exhibition brings together cross-disciplinary creators including architects, product designers, graphic designers, woodworking artisans, academic researchers, filmmakers, and chefs. Using 'design' as the core entry point, it comprehensively deconstructs the 'cha chaan teng' through multi-sensory experiences involving sight, sound, touch, and smell. Through methods of 'recreation' and 're-creation,' research findings are transformed into rich and diverse exhibition content across seven zones, mapping out the unique position of 'cha chaan teng' in Hong Kong's popular culture. Staying true to GATE33 Art Space's emphasis on interactive experiences, the exhibition features two major immersive experiences. Visitors can personally 'answer phone orders,' decoding the unique 'order-taking' codes exclusive to Hong Kong tea restaurants. You can also don a waiter's uniform and experience the 1:1 scale 'beverage station' workflow, preparing the globally renowned 'lightning-fast meals' while understanding the efficiency secrets behind them. Admission fee: HK$20 (from April 1st onwards)

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