[News from Institutions] Hong Kong Design Institute Unveils “Leslie・Grace at 70 Exhibition” This September Unseen Archival Photographs of Leslie CHEUNG to Make Public Debut
Over 400 Students Participate in Homage to the Golden Era of Hong Kong Pop Culture

Hong Kong popular culture is an important asset that embodies the city’s collective memory and cultural identity. To promote the preservation and inheritance of local popular culture, the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and the Hong Kong Institute of Professional Photographers are co-organising the “Leslie・Grace at 70 Exhibition”, which is open for free from now until 15 November 2026. 

Curated by the Department of Fashion and Image Design, the exhibition centred around the artistic achievements of the legendary icon Leslie CHEUNG and the golden era of Hong Kong pop culture he represents, it invites the public to revisit the creative spirit and cultural landscape of the era through historical images and immersive experiences. Most notably, the exhibition marks the public debut of a rare collection of archival photographs of Leslie CHEUNG taken by local and international photographers throughout the 1980s and 1990s, capturing defining moments in Hong Kong’s pop culture history.

Bringing together more than 400 students across multiple design disciplines, including Communication Design, Digital Media, and Fashion and Image Design, the exhibition reinterprets the unique allure of 1980s and 1990s pop culture, paying homage to Hong Kong’s golden era through an interdisciplinary creative practice combining design, art, and fashion.

Upholding its educational philosophy of “Think and Do”, HKDI remains committed to nurturing the next generation of creative talent with global vision and cultural literacy through hands-on learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Through a series of photography workshops, vinyl record production, industry talks, and exhibition curation, students have gained hands-on experience across every stage of the creative process, from cultural research to product development.

Dr Elita LAM, Principal of HKDI and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee), said, “Leslie CHEUNG is more than a legendary icon; he represents a golden era of Hong Kong pop culture marked by remarkable creativity and global impact. By taking his artistic legacy as a starting point, this project enables students to gain a deep understanding of our pop culture history through cultural research, design creation and multidisciplinary practices. We hope to inspire students to appreciate classic heritage while encouraging them to inherit local culture with innovative thinking, transforming Hong Kong’s unique cultural heritage into a creative force for the future.”

Three Thematic Zones Feature Intergenerational Dialogue
The exhibition is organised into three distinct thematic zones, showcasing the debut collection of archival photographs of Leslie CHEUNG, immersive interactive experiences blending classic exhibits with aesthetic elements, as well as HKDI student design works and a limited-edition commemorative vinyl record. Together, these elements highlight Cheung's artistic achievements and his profound impact on Hong Kong pop culture through diverse media.

Unseen Archival Photographs Debut to Recapture Iconic Moments
The main section showcases original works provided by local photographers Fanco LAI, Jonny KOO, Lewis HO, Sam WONG, and Korean photographer Hyung S. KIM. Captured during the 1980s and 1990s, these original Polaroids, negatives, and prints offer visitors diverse perspectives to relive the cherished memories of Hong Kong’s golden era, with many of the works on public display for the first time. 

Rediscovering Leslie CHEUNG Through Immersive Experiences
Beyond photography, the exhibition offers a range of immersive experiences that bring visitors closer to Leslie CHEUNG’s enduring artistic legacy. Visitors can step into a recreated darkroom setting to discover the craftsmanship behind traditional film development and printing, and admire the iconic silver microphone stand from Cheung’s Final Encounter of the Legend farewell concert, a treasured symbol of his legendary stage presence. 

Student Creations Demonstrate Hands-on Practical Spirit
The exhibition also showcases creative works by students from Communication Design, Digital Media, and Fashion and Image Design. Leveraging digital illustration tools, Digital Media and Communication Design students took inspiration from Cheung’s classic single album sleeves to explore their visual language and aesthetic character from a contemporary design perspective. The top student entries are displayed alongside fashion styling concepts created by Fashion and Image Design students, demonstrating the young generation’s understanding and creative interpretation of local pop culture. 

Bridging Creativity with Industry: Limited-Edition Vinyl Release
To give students hands-on experience in commercial design, HKDI partnered with Universal Music Hong Kong to produce a limited-edition commemorative vinyl record, with only 500 copies available. HKDI students participated directly in the real-world workflow, including cover and packaging design, product development and marketing. From music licensing and branding to product development, the project gave students hands-on experience of industry practices, translating classroom learning into commercially viable and culturally meaningful work. Visitors can purchase this vinyl record in-person at HKDI Atelier Shop. 

Learning from Industry Experts
To give students first-hand insights into the creative industry and the evolution of local pop culture, renowned photographers Sam WONG and Ringo TANG served as mentors and judges for the student competition. In addition to sharing personal stories from their collaborations with Cheung, aesthetic concepts, and photography demonstrations, they led traditional darkroom workshops, helping students master the technique of capturing light and shadow while understanding the visual heritage of Hong Kong.

The initiative was also supported by tech brand vivo, which provided its latest smartphones for students to document their creative process and create videos inspired by Cheung’s classic songs. The collaboration bridged traditional analogue craftsmanship with contemporary digital technology. 

Through this interdisciplinary project, HKDI aims to deepen younger people’s appreciation of Hong Kong's unique visual culture while encouraging the preservation and contemporary reinterpretation of the city's pop culture legacy.