13 arts and culture events in June: Bubble Experience, White Snake ballet, James Turrell show and more

When: Until June 7
Where: Hong Kong City Hall
What: The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre remounts its acclaimed Cantonese production of After Life. Adapted by Olivier Award-winning playwright Jack Thorne from Hirokazu Kore-eda’s classic film, this blockbuster play unfolds inside a mystical transit station where the recently deceased must select a single, defining memory to carry into eternity. Balancing attachment against separation, the profound narrative forces audiences to weigh the true value of their lived experiences. It stands as a beautifully raw, contemplative exploration of life, death and human connection.

When: Until August 1
Where: Gagosian, Central
What: Gagosian Central presents Lifting the Veil, a captivating exhibition of works by light artist James Turrell. Pushing the boundaries of human perception for over five decades, Turrell utilizes light as a physical material rather than a tool for illustration. The show features architectural site models alongside three custom-built chambers housing computer-controlled LED Glassworks: Resolute, Patmos and Of One Mind. These structures cast shifting fields of pulsing colour, providing a deep, meditative oasis that contrasts with Hong Kong’s vertical density.

When: Until August 8
Where: David Zwirner, 5–6/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central
What: David Zwirner presents the inaugural solo exhibition of American minimalist pioneer Dan Flavin in Greater China. Focusing on his iconic grids initiated in 1976, this presentation displays commercially available fluorescent tubes to dramatically construct and redefine gallery architecture. Highlighted works include Untitled (for Mary Ann and Hal with fondest regards) 1 and 2, featuring intersecting 8ft square patterns of pink and green illumination. Placed in corners, these installations generate an optical interplay of colour and shadow that challenges the eye.

When: Until October 25
Where: M+
What: On display at M+, Wael Shawky’s compelling video installation I Am Hymns of the New Temples looks closely at the dawn of civilisation and the construction of national mythologies. Filmed against the backdrop of the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the piece features actors wearing handmade ceramic and papier-mâché masks. They traverse a historic crossroads where Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures once intersected. Shawky reinterprets shared creation fables, showing how societies continuously reshape classical stories for political and national identity.

When: June 5 to 10
Where: Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: The Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio introduces a visceral reimagining of Othello, serving as the opening programme for the second Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival. Director Tang Shu-wing transposes this devastating classical tragedy into a timeless parallel universe. Four exceptional actors play multiple roles, utilizing intense physical theatre and deep psychological tension to strip away the superfluous. The production confronts viewers with the corrosive nature of jealousy, tracking a general’s descent into self-destruction.

When: From June 11 to August 29
Where: Hauser & Wirth, G/F, 8 Queen’s Road Central, Central
What: Hauser & Wirth Central presents Like Water, the first solo exhibition in East Asia by celebrated British artist Sir Frank Bowling. Spanning creations from the 1960s to 2020, the exhibition highlights Bowling’s mastery of rich surface textures and innovative paint applications. The poignant painting Untitled (Mother’s House) stands as a testament to his formative memories, using screenprinted layers and earthy blues, greens, and reds to evoke the vivid Guyanese landscape of his youth.

When: June 12 and 13
Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: Lady White Snake is a contemporary dance production that reimagines a classic Chinese folk legend through the lens of a psychological drama centered on self-discovery. The production weaves Western ballet with classical Chinese dance, martial arts and modern movement. Featuring delicate oil-paper umbrella pas de deux sequences and sweeping water-sleeve choreography, it highlights the region’s strength as an East-meets-West hub of cultural exchange.

In case you missed it: All the musicals happening in the region this year: From ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ to ‘Matilda’

When: June 17 and 18
Where: Tides, Site 6, Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom
What: The undisputed queen of bossa nova, Lisa Ono, returns to Hong Kong for an elegant evening of music at Tides. Celebrating a career defined by sun-drenched rhythms and sophisticated global syncopation, Ono will perform her signature acoustic blend of Brazilian samba and smooth jazz vocals. Singing in multiple languages with her trademark velvety warmth, the legendary songstress promises to deliver a romantic, intimate escape, transporting audiences straight to the golden shores of Rio de Janeiro.

When: June 19 to 20
Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: Maestro Long Yu conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance bridging different musical eras. The concert features Berlin Philharmonic first principal viola Diyang Mei, showcasing Joe Hisaishi’s Viola Saga alongside his whimsical melodies from Howl’s Moving Castle. The orchestral programme concludes with Johannes Brahms’s Fourth Symphony, a monumental masterwork of the Romantic era. The curated pairing offers a deep exploration of symphonic structure and profound emotional composition.

In case you missed it: Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi on his long-awaited return to Hong Kong, challenges of composing and playing at the Hollywood Bowl

When: June 27
Where: Giardino, The Fullerton Hotel, 3 Ocean Drive, Aberdeen
What: The seafront gardens of Giardino transform into a candlelit paradise for an evening of nostalgic magic with Mamma Mia! by EGA (Events Group Asia). A soulful string quartet will perform live on the seafront, playing a selection of ABBA’s timeless pop hits against the backdrop of lapping waves. Audiences are encouraged to don their favourite disco flares and platform shoes for an open-air singalong under the stars, featuring classics like Dancing Queen, Super Trouper and Waterloo.

When: Until July 31
Where: Oi Ling Gallery, Shop 2, 123 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
What: As part of French May, Oi Ling Gallery presents an exhibition of ancient Chinese tea and incense utensils that highlight the historical links between French and Chinese craftsmanship. The showcase honours xiang dao (the way of fragrance) and traditional tea rituals that reached their aesthetic zenith during the Song dynasty.

To complement the display, the gallery will host companion workshops: A Sip of Song Tea on June 27, and Four Chinese Arts – Song Style Paintings on July 5.

When: From June 29
Where: 2/F, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, 33 Shing Fung Road, Kowloon City
What: Launching at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Bubble Planet Hong Kong offers an immersive, multi-sensory environment designed to spark the imagination. This interactive exhibition leads visitors through vast, spherical rooms filled with oversized bubbles, cloud compositions and optical illusions engaging all five senses. Complete with VR technology and a hot air balloon flight simulator that travels across the globe, the whimsical experience is built to delight families, young creatives, and pop-culture fans alike.

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