Cover From left: Jacky Ho and Jason Ma of the ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ project (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
From left: Jacky Ho and Jason Ma of the ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ project (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
1 / 1
Jacky Ho, formerly of Christie’s, has transformed abandoned tong lau in Tai Hang into art spaces for Hong Kong’s art month
The typically serene neighbourhood of Tai Hang—with its lanes of outdoor dai pai dongs, quaint cafés and flower shops—has been given a colourful makeover this month. Amid narrow streets lined with historic tong lau (old-style Chinese buildings), visitors may wander past several units whose door and window frames are painted dark green. Step inside, and they will find an array of paintings, installations, sculptures and soundscapes.
These artistic “houses” form part of a new contemporary art festival taking place from March 21 to 25. Called ArtHouse Tai Hang, it was launched by Jacky Ho, formerly Deputy Head of Department and Senior Vice President at Christie’s. Ten empty or abandoned spaces in this historic neighbourhood have been renovated, decorated and transformed into temporary art venues hosting exhibitions by 50 rising international artists.
Don’t miss: Review: Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’ is painful to watch—but not for the reasons you think
Above Jacky Ho, founder of the ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ project (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
Jacky Ho, founder of the ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ project (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
1 / 1
But art is not the only highlight of the festival. Tickets, priced at HK$250, include HK$50 vouchers redeemable at 10 designated restaurants and shops in the neighbourhood—including Shun Hing Cha Chaan Teng, known for its barbecued pork and scrambled egg rice. Proceeds from the vouchers go directly to participating businesses as part of the festival’s effort to support the local community.
After spending more than a decade in the auction‑house industry, Ho began exploring new ways of making art more accessible to the public. While he recognises that auction houses and galleries are vital pillars of the art ecosystem, he aims to bridge the divide between communities and artists—believing that art should be part of everyday life. His inspiration came from Japan’s Echigo‑Tsumari Art Triennale, a festival renowned for site‑specific works created on privately owned land, such as rice fields—its core principle being community engagement.
Above Qi Zhuo’s installation in Tai Hang (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
Qi Zhuo’s installation in Tai Hang (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
1 / 1
Having left Christie’s in November 2025, Ho decided to bring this model to his home city. “We want to build a new art town for Hong Kong,” he says. “Tai Hang is the best exhibition space for art. It’s a time machine and a time capsule. It has three generations of buildings from different eras: 100 years apart, 50 years apart, and they stand right next to each other in the same pocket of the city.”
Many of these buildings contain vacant spaces that are difficult to lease for various reasons. Ho believes that turning them into temporary art spaces can breathe new life into both the units and the wider Tai Hang community. He pairs each artwork with a house chosen for its architectural character to create harmony between art and space. For instance, Chinese contemporary ceramic artist Qi Zhuo’s Buddha‑inspired sculptures are displayed in a hall with brightly coloured stained‑glass windows designed to evoke the solemnity of a futuristic chapel.
Above Shun Hing Cha Chaan Teng, one of the partnered restaurants of ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
Shun Hing Cha Chaan Teng, one of the partnered restaurants of ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
1 / 1
While Ho’s previous commercial role focused on established artists, his new venture provides a platform for emerging and mid‑career talents he considers essential to the art market. “We focus this project on talented emerging and mid‑career artists who have not yet been widely exposed in the secondary market,” he says.
“The auction‑house experience definitely helped,” he adds. “A lot of persistence was needed in putting a project like this together—dealing with different landlords, partners, galleries and sponsors. The multitasking and persistence were skills honed during my auction‑house years.”
ArtHouse Tai Hang is also supported by Dash, a government‑funded and Visa‑supported start‑up dedicated to modernising the city’s taxi industry. Tickets can be purchased through Dash’s app, which also promotes the festival to users. “When I was developing the app, I didn’t want it to just be for calling taxis,” says its founder Jason Ma. “Sure, a taxi platform solves logistical problems and takes you where you need to go, but it can also be a lifestyle platform that recommends experiences. I wanted to support the art industry by bringing tourists through the platform.”
Above ‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
‘ArtHouse Tai Hang’ (Photo: courtesy of ArtHouse Tai Hang)
1 / 1
Once in Tai Hang, visitors are encouraged to explore without a fixed route. “We recommend slowing down during this hectic week to enjoy the art and the neighbourhood,” Ho says. For those seeking guidance, a suggested route begins at 8 Woon Shah Street.
“I hope ArtHouse Tai Hang can help transform the area into one of the most creative neighbourhoods in Asia,” Ho says.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
