Cover ‘Dongpo: Life in Poems’ (Photo: courtesy of LCSD)
‘Dongpo: Life in Poems’ (Photo: courtesy of LCSD)
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From Jay Chou’s and Jay Fung’s concerts to exhibitions by a Met Gala designer and Trevor Yeung, there is something for everyone in June
June is an exciting month for both classical arts lovers and pop culture enthusiasts. For a start, the king of Mando-pop Jay Chou, Canto-pop star Jay Fung and Hollywood comedian Jimmy O Yang are in town.
In the visual art world, works by some of the industry’s biggest names will be showcased, including Cy Gavin—known for designing the blue carpet of this year’s Met Gala—and homegrown artist Trevor Yeung, who adapts his Venice Biennale show for M+.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra will present music by Oscar-winning French composer Alexandre Desplat, featuring soundtracks from Lust, Caution (2007), Godzilla (2014) and The Shape of Water (2017).
Read on to find out more about the arts and culture events this month.
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1. Salvatore Emblema
Above ‘Untitled’ (1980) by Salvatore Emblema (Image: courtesy of Salvatore Emblema, White
Cube and Kitmin Lee)
‘Untitled’ (1980) by Salvatore Emblema (Image: courtesy of Salvatore Emblema, White Cube and Kitmin Lee)
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When: Until July 5
Where: White Cube, 50 Connaught Road Central, Central
What: This marks the late Italian artist Salvatore Emblema (1929-2006)’s first solo show in Asia. Born in Terzigno, he was deeply attuned to the volcanic terrain of southern Italy, where he lived and worked for most of his life. Highlighting his exploration of light, space and transparency, the exhibition spans four decades of his career, charting how the landscape shaped the material and conceptual essence of his work.
2. Cy Gavin
Above ‘Untitled (Aquarium)’ (2025) by Cy Gavin (Image: courtesy of Cy Gavin, Jackie Furtado and Gagosian)
‘Untitled (Aquarium)’ (2025) by Cy Gavin (Image: courtesy of Cy Gavin, Jackie Furtado and Gagosian)
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When: Until August 2
Where: Gagosian, 7/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central
What: New York-based artist Cy Gavin—who drew global attention for his Met Gala blue carpet—is debuting his first solo show in Asia. His latest works explore transformation, resilience and natural cycles. Featuring elements like Maximillian sunflowers and protostars, Gavin weaves together metaphors of biological and geological growth.
3. Dongpo: Life in Poems
Above ‘Dongpo: Life in Poems’ (Photo: courtesy of LCSD)
‘Dongpo: Life in Poems’ (Photo: courtesy of LCSD)
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When: June 13 to 14
Where: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
What: A poetic homage to Song dynasty polymath Su Dongpo (1037–1101), this stage production by China Oriental Performing Arts Group blends contemporary dance with classical Chinese cultural elements. Expect an atmospheric interpretation of Dongpo’s legacy through calligraphy, poetry, martial arts, painting and more.
4. Jimmy O Yang Live in Hong Kong
When: June 13 to 15
Where: Hong Kong Coliseum
What: Hong Kong-born comedian and actor Jimmy O Yang returns for his hometown debut. Known for Interior Chinatown (2024) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Yang delivers fast-paced humour shaped by cultural quirks and personal tales of identity.
5. Echoes of the Heart
Above A poster of ‘Echoes of the Heart’ (Photo: courtesy of French May)
A poster of ‘Echoes of the Heart’ (Photo: courtesy of French May)
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When: June 14
Where: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
What: A multicultural musical moment featuring Canto-pop singer Jay Fung and French vocalist Joyce Jonathan. They’ll perform across genres in Chinese, English and French. Jonathan, who won the NRJ Music Award for Francophone Breakthrough of the Year in 2011, is the first French singer-songwriter to join the Chinese music competition Ride the Wind in 2024. This concert is part of this year’s French May.
6. Trevor Yeung: Courtyard of Detachments
Above ‘Pond of Never Enough’ by Trevor Yeung (Photo: courtesy of M+ and the artist)
‘Pond of Never Enough’ by Trevor Yeung (Photo: courtesy of M+ and the artist)
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When: June 14 to October 12
Where: M+, West Kowloon Cultural District
What: Following his showcase at the 60th Venice Biennale, Hong Kong artist Trevor Yeung revisits and reimagines his acclaimed installation. Shifting from themes of attachment to detachment, Yeung explores power dynamics and emotional ecology through aquatic-inspired ecosystems.
7. Wing Po So: Polyglot
Above ‘Polyglot Mulberry’ (2023) by Wing Po So (Image: courtesy of Blindspot Gallery and the artist)
‘Polyglot Mulberry’ (2023) by Wing Po So (Image: courtesy of Blindspot Gallery and the artist)
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When: June 17 to August 23
Where: Blindspot Gallery, Wong Chuk Hang
What: Wing Po So examines the language of nature through a pharmacological lens. Drawing from Chinese medicine, her mixed-media works use materia medica to reveal hidden systems and structures, offering a layered interpretation of the environment and the unseen forces within it.
8. Design Trust Futures Festival
Above A painting by local artist Stephen Wong, who is participating at the festival (Photo: courtesy of the artist and Design Trust)
A painting by local artist Stephen Wong, who is participating at the festival (Photo: courtesy of the artist and Design Trust)
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When: Until June 18
Where: Murray House, Stanley Plaza, Stanley
What: Don’t miss the chance to visit the new Design Trust Futures Festival this year, themed “The Art of Transformation”. This micro-festival, which redefines design and urbanism in Hong Kong, gathers Design Trust researchers, scholars and designers to share ongoing work and present site-specific commissioned pieces at the historic Murray House in Stanley Plaza. Curated by the platform’s Marisa Yiu and Zheng Zhou, the initiative aims to test ideas and speculate on the future of spaces, urbanism and creativity. It addresses global conversations around sustainability, placemaking, tourism’s role in culture and Hong Kong’s heritage within the Greater Bay Area, striving for positive and impactful outcomes.
The occasion will end on June 18 with Design Trust Sketchalogues, a conversation among Hong Kong’s art and design industry leaders: Fabrik lab founder Elaine Ng, ink artist Raymond Fung, architect Rocco Yim and more.
9. The Film Music of Alexandre Desplat
Above A still from ‘The Shape of Water’ (Image: courtesy of IMDB)
A still from ‘The Shape of Water’ (Image: courtesy of IMDB)
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When: June 20 and 21
Where: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: The Hong Kong Philharmonic pays tribute to Alexandre Desplat, the French composer behind The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Lust, Caution (2007), Godzilla (2014), The Shape of Water (2017). Though Desplat will not attend due to Hollywood commitments; his wife and violinist Solrey will conduct the performance.
10. Jay Chou Carnival World Tour
Above Jay Chou at his ‘Carnival World Tour’ in Nanning, China in April 2025 (Photo: Instagram/@jaychou)
Jay Chou at his ‘Carnival World Tour’ in Nanning, China in April 2025 (Photo: Instagram/@jaychou)
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When: June 27 to 29
Where: Kai Tak Stadium, Kowloon City
What: The Mando-pop legend Jay Chou returns to Hong Kong with his globe-trotting Carnival World Tour, which began in Shanghai in 2019 and has since then toured around Asia, Oceania and Europe. From Fade Away to If You Don’t Love Me, It’s Fine, fans can expect an energetic set of his greatest hits in this Hong Kong concert.
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.
