[News from Institutions] Hong Kong Design Institute establishes Comic Education Base to nurture next generation of creators for the market. The first “Boundless Passion: The Power of Comics across Cultures” exhibition unites iconic works from Hong Kong, Japan, the Czech Republic, and Belgium to promote international cultural exchange

To support Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is hosting the “Boundless Passion: The Power of Comics across Cultures” exhibition from now until 8 May 2025. Alongside this, HKDI is launching the “Comic Begins Again…” Comic Club and Pop-Up Event. Through exhibitions, education, and creative practices, the initiative explores how comics transcend regional and cultural boundaries to become a universal creative medium, providing a multicultural exchange learning platform for students and the public.

Exhibition “Boundless Passion: The Power of Comics across Cultures”—A Hong Kong-Japan-Europe Comics Dialogue 

The HKDI Centre for Communication Design presents the first specialized comics exhibition, “Boundless Passion: The Power of Comics across Cultures”. This two-week showcase brings together a captivating selection of comics from different eras in Hong Kong, Japan and the Czech Republic. Showcasing replica manuscripts, the exhibition invites the audience to reflect on personal lives through the characters’ experiences, and gain deeper understanding of the unique characteristics of comics across diverse cultural contexts. Exploring how comics transcend regional and cultural boundaries, this presentation exudes passion and courage, and champions aspiring comic creators and lovers to pursue their dreams.

Interweaving diverse thematic concepts such as family, personal growth, heroic adventures, and fantasy stories, audiences can appreciate the unique styles and narrative techniques of comics from various regions, experience exquisite artwork and lively storylines, and gain insights into the creative concepts and cultural contexts behind the works.

Visitors can fully immerse in nostalgic Hong Kong classics such as “Oriental Heroes” by the “Godfather of Hong Kong Comics” Dr Tony WONG, “Feel 100%” by comic artist Jeffrey LAU, and “The Ravages of Time” by comic artist CHAN Mou. Other highlights include the iconic Japanese works “Crayon Shin-chan”, “SPY X FAMILY”, and the global phenomenon “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”. Additionally, the exhibition will shed light on distinctive European gems, such as “Anča a Pepík” by renowned Czech comic artist Lucie Lomová.

European comics, which often resemble illustration art, are known for their intricate details and straightforward artistic expression, providing the Hong Kong audience with a refreshing visual experience. HKDI previously hosted student workshops on campus with Lucie Lomová and young Belgian artist Alix Garin, with outstanding student works featured in this presentation. Students had the chance to engage with creative ideas distinct from Asian comics, drawing inspiration to broaden their horizons and enrich their creativity. This cross-cultural artistic exchange offers HKDI students a valuable international learning platform, cultivating a new generation of comic creators with a global perspective and laying a solid foundation for future talent in comic creation.

“Comic Club” – Promoting multiculturalism and nurturing a new generation of creators for the market

Serving as both a comic education base and a community platform for comic enthusiasts and creators, the “Comic Club” located at the HKDI campus officially opened yesterday (24 April). It houses over 2,000 local and international comic books for students and the community to enjoy and explore.

To showcase the diversity of comics to students and the public, HKDI will transform the “Comic Club” each month with different comic story themes. Additionally, renowned comic artists, such as Hong Kong-based Jeffrey Lau and popular Japanese artist Ochazukenori, will be invited monthly to serve as “One-Day Comic Club Host”. Through free comic workshops, they will share their creative experiences and guide the public to gain a deeper understanding of comic culture.

The “Comic Club” does not only bring classic comic works to the campus but also collaborates with the HKDI Centre of Design Services and Solutions to support students in creating new intellectual property. This initiative provides an interdisciplinary platform for students to engage with the market. Students from HKDI’s Communication Design and Fashion and Image Design departments work together to transform comic characters and stories into fashion items and more, exploring the commercial possibilities of comics. Outstanding student works will be sold through the online store of HKDI Centre of Design Services and Solutions, as well as the HKVTC Shop, offering young creators a valuable hands-on opportunity to directly engage with the market, participate in various operational processes, and apply their creativity, knowledge, and skills in real-world contexts. 

About Hong Kong Design Institute 

Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) is a member of VTC Group. HKDI was established in 2007 with the mission to be a leading provider of design education and lifelong learning, including architecture, interior and product design, communication design, digital media, and fashion and image design. With a view to providing professional designers for the creative industries, it promotes the “think and do” approach and encourages interdisciplinary synergy in its broad range of design programmes that cultivates students’ cultural sensitivities and sense of sustainability. HKDI maintains a strong network with industry and provides its students with essential practical experience. Overseas exchanges are actively arranged for students to broaden their international perspective.  

Website: www.hkdi.edu.hk 

About HKDI Centre for Communication Design

The Centre for Communication Design at Hong Kong Design Institute is an applied research and consultancy hub dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in all areas of graphic communication including typography, information design, advertising, user experience design, illustration, brand communications as well as printing and publishing. It acts as a knowledge exchange platform between staff, students as well as external organisations, tightly integrating practice, research, teaching and outreach activities. All activities at the Centre for Communication Design will be fed into learning and teaching and will involve students at HKDI’s Department of Communication Design and beyond. The Centre’s research and engagement activities will enrich our curricula with new knowledge and industrial input.

About HKDI Centre of Design Services and Solutions

The Centre of Design Services and Solutions as one of the Knowledge Centres at HKDI.  Its services comprise four areas: Design Incubation, e-Commerce, Big Data Analysis and Technology-driven In-store Experience.  The Centre is commissioned to serve as a knowledge exchange hub for academics and retailers locally, regionally and internationally, and to synergise latest developments, innovative ideas and best practices, with a vision to build business strategies and design solutions for future challenges.

About HKVTC Shop

HKVTC Shop provides a complete and one-stop promotion and sales channel for the products designed and/or produced by VTC students and graduates.  HKVTC Shop will also launch a series of VTC-branded products and invite students to participate in product design and production, allowing them to develop their potential and demonstrate their strengths. At the same time, HKVTC Shop offers an authentic training environment that offers numerous opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents and strengths. Students from different Disciplines can learn through performing real jobs, which are related to their respective programmes of studies, in different functional areas of the VTC E-Shop. Students can participate in e-commerce platform operation, warehousing and logistics management and marketing by applying creativity, trade knowledge and skills and learn by doing in a real-world setting.

Media Enquiries: 3928 2994 / 3928 2702