HKUST Unveils World-First MR×AI Digital Art Exhibition

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(Guangzhou), has launched the SURREALITY Mixed Reality (MR) × Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Art Cross-City Exhibition, marking a milestone in integrating technology and the humanities. As part of HKUST's 35th-anniversary celebrations, the world's first large-scale, cross-regional MR × AI digital art exhibition was previewed at the Clear Water Bay campus. The exhibition showcases works by renowned international and Chinese Mainland digital artists, as well as faculty and students from both campuses, blending creativity with VR, MR, and AI technologies to transform the campus into a global hub for arts innovation. It will open at HKUST(GZ) and run through July 31, 2026, before returning to Hong Kong for public engagement, exemplifying HKUST's commitment to driving cultural mobility and fostering international exchange through innovative technologies.

Key leaders emphasized the significance of the exhibition. Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, highlighted its alignment with Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, supported by the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR Government's Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development. She noted that HKUST's Strategic Plan 2031 identifies the integration of innovation and the humanities as a key direction, leading to the establishment of Hong Kong's first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity. Prof. Lionel NI Ming-Shuan, President of HKUST(GZ), described SURREALITY as a powerful showcase of interdisciplinary strengths, with artists from 23 countries and regions redefining boundaries through the fusion of virtual and real. The digital 'Portal' connecting Clear Water Bay and Nansha embodies a forward-looking model of educational collaboration where engineering converges with aesthetics.

SURREALITY features nearly 50 works by over 70 digital artists from the US, Germany, Russia, Australia, Bolivia, Singapore, Korea, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong. Highlights include The Gate, a metaverse-inspired centerpiece enabling cross-campus virtual traversal; Kunpeng, a giant fish transforming into a roc; and The Twinworld Tree, symbolizing interdependence. Works like GFP Bunny by Prof. Eduardo KAC and Echoes of Earth 2.0 by Mr. ZHANG Yishuai reflect on bioethics and AI. VR pieces such as Astra and Mother's Body Remembers offer immersive experiences. Prof. Pan HUI introduced the core concept of SURREALITY, exploring a future where virtual and physical realities merge. The exhibition underscores HKUST's role in advancing interdisciplinary integration and cultural exchange, as detailed in the Media OutReach Newswire release.