Cover ‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
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Hong Kong’s first art dome opens in Kai Tak—and it’s a fusion of interactive technology, sound and audience participation that transforms spectators into co-creators
Hong Kong’s creative scene gains a new celestial landmark this December with the arrival of FutureScope, the city’s first large-scale art dome. Opening at Kai Tak’s Dream by the Sea, this mesmerising sphere of sound, light and code makes its debut with Perpetual Records, an immersive, multi-sensory work conjured by Hong Kong media artist Chris Cheung and his studio Xcept, in collaboration with renowned Japanese artist Daito Manabe.
From December 19, 2025 to January 4, 2026, visitors are invited to step into this futuristic temple of art and data. But FutureScope’s debut isn’t simply another digital spectacular: it’s an interactive artwork that quite literally sees you.
FutureScope transforms the traditional art-viewing experience into an act of co-creation. Upon entry, visitors can have their faces scanned, and their distinct features and movements will be translated into dynamic geometric patterns that appear on the 360° dome.
Above ‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
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The concept draws inspiration from the Akashic Records, a mystical idea, rooted in Sanskrit (“Akasha” means sky or ether), of a cosmic archive that records all human experience. But here, those metaphysical threads take digital form. Every scan, every gaze, every movement contributes to a living archive, transforming FutureScope’s interior into a shared data dreamscape.
While the visuals are mesmerising, the sonic layer is equally transformative. Japanese artist and computer programmer Daito Manabe, celebrated for his experimental projects at the intersection of music and computation, has composed a soundscape that reacts in real-time to the audience’s presence. He uses white noise, digital frequencies and electric tones that shift in delicate synchrony with the facial-recognition input. The result is an enveloping audio environment that feels almost sentient, as though the dome itself breathes in rhythm with its visitors.
Above ‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
‘FutureScope’, an art dome in Kai Tak (Photo: courtesy of Xcept)
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For an elevated experience, ticketed performances will run on select dates. Under the direction of Cheung, each 30-minute session unfolds through five fluid scenes, culminating in a live performance that weaves audience input with reactive visuals and sound. No two sessions are the same; the shifting interplay ensures that every visit becomes a one-off creation.
FutureScope represents more than an innovative art installation; it’s a testament to the new possibilities of collective creativity. The dome’s grand, curving projection space transforms from a passive viewing arena into a living, participatory environment. Visitors don’t just watch—they inhabit the artwork.
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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.
