The SCM Research Colloquium takes place approximately once a month for graduate students, faculty and professionals from creative media and other related disciplines to present their recent research topic/project. The colloquium offers a great opportunity for ideas exchange and intellectual conversations about one’s work. Each session will feature two speakers, a graduate student/guest speaker and a faculty member.

Each presentation is about 30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes open discussion. Seminar introduction and Q&A will be hosted by Prof. Espen Aarseth or Prof. Richard Allen. No registration is needed and light refreshments are provided.

Seminar 1

29 October 2024, 3:30 p.m – 5:30 p.m

Elke Reinhuber: Eternalising Hong Kong's Concrete Sculptures through Expanded Photography

With a fascination for overlooked details in urban space, this research explores a variety of methods and strategies to capture, represent, and preserve the distinctive aesthetic of Hong Kong’s street furniture. These objects may soon be demolished or redecorated. The collection will form the basis of a room-scale VR experience that showcases the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the concrete sculptures, blending utopian and dystopian narrative elements. By employing a range of advanced imaging techniques, including photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and 3DGS, the project aims not just to capture two-dimensional images, but to create spatial representations that can be retrospectively adjusted for lighting and texture. This venture seeks to advance the technical possibilities of architectural photography, while fostering a deeper appreciation of the city’s architectural heritage and cultural identity.

Phoebe Man: A Participant-led Model for Organizing Community Art
Case study: Fotan Open Studios in Hong Kong

In 2001, art teachers and students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong organized an open studios event, leading to a rise in artistic activities in industrial buildings. Many artists moved into Fotan, forming a local art community. By 2025, the Fotan Open Studios will have been 25 years. It is a long-lived community arts event in Hong Kong. Fotan is not the only place where there are open studio events, but also in other industrial districts in Hong Kong, such as Chai Wan, Kwun Tong, San Po Kong and Ap Lei Chau, with Fotan being the most long-lasting with a visual art focus. Why has it lasted so long? What kind of organizational model can sustain a community art event? It is not easy to connect independent artists. How did the Fotan art community come into being? These are the questions this research seeks to answer. This research is conducted through a literature review, interviews with organizers, active participants and audience members. The participant observation method is used to examine the efficacy of this activity. This research aims to identify good practices for organizing community art and community building.