Renowned Hong Kong designer, Mao Zhuoran, who resides in Taiwan, recently held an exhibition in Taipei. Lu Changshui, the Secretary-General of the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Cooperation Promotion Council, expressed that Taiwan offers freedom of creation and welcomes cultural professionals from Hong Kong and Macau to come to Taiwan to develop new creative businesses and freely unleash their creativity.
The Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Cooperation Promotion Council issued a press release stating that to show concern for professionals in the creative design industry in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and to understand the living conditions of cultural individuals from Hong Kong and Macau in Taiwan, on the 5th, Lu Changshui, the Director of the Mainland Affairs Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and Secretary-General of the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Cooperation Promotion Council, along with Chief Tsa Ming-chieh and colleagues from the Promotion Council, visited the well-known Hong Kong designer who has been living in Taiwan since 2023, Mao Zhuoran, to exchange creative experiences and discuss future living plans in Taiwan.
Lu Changshui emphasized that Taiwan has a society with ample freedom for creative work, and the design industry plays a crucial role in the economy, culture, and society, serving as a core competitive industry. The government actively promotes and organizes events such as Taiwan Design Week and Taiwan Design Expo to drive economic development through design energy, while also welcoming professionals from Hong Kong and Macau to come to Taiwan to enrich Taiwanese cultural life and infuse fresh creative vitality.
Mao Zhuoran is a prominent graphic designer and curator from Hong Kong, whose works have won numerous prestigious international design competitions such as the New York Art Directors Club (NYADC), the UK’s D&AD, the Tokyo Type Directors Club Annual, and the most influential design award in Asia.
In recent years, Mao Zhuoran has been actively involved in Taiwan’s creative design circle, with his works receiving accolades like the Taiwan Golden Pin Design Award, Taipei Design Award, and serving as a jury member for the Kaohsiung Youth Design Festival and the Golden Pin Design Award competition, creating works for institutions like the Guowen News and Cultural Center, National Taiwan Literature Museum, Weiwuying National Arts and Cultural Center, and Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts.
Aside from sharing his design selection, past portfolios, and rich experiences collaborating with Taiwan, Mao Zhuoran expressed his delight in having the opportunity to exhibit his designs for openground from Hong Kong, including books, posters, and portfolios, at the “Temporarily Open” design exhibition in Taipei’s Zhongshan District, showcasing openground’s spirit in Taiwan and hoping to continue working together with Taiwanese partners for the future of the creative industry.
During their interactions, Lu Changshui and his delegation discussed the differences in design styles and cultural environments among Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, noting Taiwan’s thriving creative design industry in recent years, Hong Kong’s more commercial and international style of design, and Macau’s blend of traditional and modern elements, each possessing its unique characteristics.
Mao Zhuoran believes that with the advent of the new era of artificial intelligence, designers can showcase innovative spirit in Taiwan, cleverly utilizing AI tools to create new design realms. He hopes to bring Hong Kong and international perspectives into Taiwan’s design industry, sparking new ideas and collaborations. Mao Zhuoran mentioned that many of his friends from the Hong Kong arts and cultural scene reside worldwide, continuing to cultivate the design industry.
Lu Changshui welcomed friends from the Hong Kong arts and cultural circle to come to Taiwan for development, expressing pleasure in seeing Hong Kong and Macau friends using their expertise to contribute to Taiwan and bring a new atmosphere to the design industry, “We will continue to safeguard and defend freedom of thought and creativity, as well as continue to create a better environment, presenting more and better design works to the world.”
The Mainland Affairs Council and the Promotion Council will continue to plan various Taiwan-Hong Kong cultural exchange activities to allow friends from Hong Kong and Macau to understand Taiwanese culture and integrate into new life in Taiwan. Recent activities include the “2024 Hong Kong Eyeing Taiwan IG Image Text Selection Activity,” “Hong Kong Film Festival,” “Good Friends Hong Kong Festival Market,” and other Taiwan-Hong Kong cultural exchange events. Friends from Hong Kong and Macau are welcome to participate.