The China Current with James Chau

How does Hong Kong shape the future of global art? At the 3rd U.S.-China Art Dialogue in Hong Kong, Alice Wong, President of Asia Society Hong Kong Center, and Alan Lo, Chairman of Para Site, explored Hong Kong’s evolving role as a global cultural hub.

The discussion examined how Hong Kong navigates the balance between local identity and global influence, with both speakers emphasizing that artistic practice today transcends traditional labels of “local” and “international.”

They also highlighted Hong Kong’s unique position as a meeting point of East and West, as well as a gateway for diaspora and transnational artistic exchange.

 

This conversation was moderated by broadcaster James Chau.

 

Dialogue 1: The Responsibility of Art Creation | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 2: The Art of Connection | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 3: The DNA of Hong Kong | Art Dialogue

 

Art can go where politics cannot. At the 3rd U.S.-China Art Dialogue in Hong Kong, Daphne King Yau, Global Director of Alisan Fine Arts and Chair of the Asian Cultural Council Hong Kong, joined Philip Tinari, Deputy Director and Head of Art at Tai Kwun Arts, to discuss how art can bridge divides in a polarized world.

 

They highlighted how art’s visual and experiential nature allows it to transcend language and politics, creating space for shared understanding and dialogue. 

 

Drawing on their work across galleries, museums, and cultural exchange programs, both speakers emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections, long-term collaboration, and immersive cultural experiences in fostering mutual understanding.

 

This conversation was moderated by broadcaster James Chau.

 

Dialogue 1: The Responsibility of Art Creation | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 2: The Art of Connection | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 3: The DNA of Hong Kong | Art Dialogue

 

 

As part of CUSEF's 3rd U.S.-China Art Dialogue, this panel brought together leading voices in art and education to examine the evolving role of artists today. 

 

Featuring Ruby Yang, Director of the School of Future Media at the University of Hong Kong and Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, and Kingsley Ng, Artist and Associate Professor at the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University, the discussion explores ethics in storytelling, the impact of AI and emerging technologies, and the enduring importance of truth and empathy.

 

This conversation was moderated by broadcaster James Chau.

 

Dialogue 1: The Responsibility of Art Creation | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 2: The Art of Connection | Art Dialogue

Dialogue 3: The DNA of Hong Kong | Art Dialogue

 

 

The China Current is proud to introduce its new Culture Contributor, Tasmin Little. The world renowned violinist first visited China in 1982 as a student at the Menuhin School. In this podcast, Tasmin pays tribute to Chi Chi, the giant panda born in the wild of Sichuan — who later made her home at London Zoo.

Ge Yang is a phenomenal table tennis player — a world champion and winner of six Paralympic gold medals across the Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio games. At the age of six, he lost his right hand in an accident at home in Hebei, a province just outside of Beijing. He shares his story of becoming an Olympian. Our Host James Chau met with him in Bangkok, where they talked about the beauty of the human spirit, and how he ultimately triumphed not only in sports, but also in life.

For the first time since the pandemic, the world gathers a major cultural event. Art Basel in Hong Kong is a truly hybrid fair with an audience that is physical and virtual. Local galleries are showing physically, but exhibitors from outside the city have flown in their works — while a new digital initiative called Art Basel Live offers online viewing rooms, virtual walkthroughs, and daily broadcasts. In this special interview, James Chau, Host of The China Current, speaks with Adeline Ooi, Director Asia of Art Basel. Watch and listen to this conversation on video and podcast.

The pandemic may have reshaped the world, but it has also triggered a surge of interest in public health education. Dr. Michelle Williams is Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which is seeing record applications from students striving to serve. Born in Jamaica, she moved to America as a child. In this conversation with James Chau, she explores the skills students require to become the global health experts of tomorrow — listening, analyzing, and communicating with communities — and the vision she brings to her role as an advisor to the Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health.

 

Part 2: Wisdom in Health | Michelle Williams | From The Well

For a decade, Dr. Margaret Chan served as the world’s health chief. Now, she is the Founding Dean of Tsinghua Vanke School of Public Health, a center of innovation in Beijing that seeks to link "health" to "humanity" in a time of global need. It is reinventing how we approach health by addressing big global challenges in parallel, from the planet to the current pandemic. This is the first episode of 'From The Well', a new conversation series where our Host James Chau sits down with global experts.

Amidst a pandemic that continues to shake the world, we sometimes need reminding that we really are “all in this together.” Astronaut Ron Garan knew he wanted to be an astronaut since he was a child when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Now, after 178 days in space and completing four spacewalks, he offers us an “orbital perspective” on the unity of humanity that becomes clear when looking at our planet from afar. Our Host James Chau speaks with Colonel Garan about the awe and wonder of space — and the contrast with the fear and anxiety in the world today.

As Chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson advocates for peace and justice for everyone. In this special conversation with our Host James Chau, the former leader of Ireland shares her insights on how we can achieve a future with the wellbeing of our planet at the center. In honor of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, The China Current presents this special conversation with Mary Robinson.