Following the acclaim of the previous talks in the “Talk of the Metropolis” series, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held the seventh talk in the series today (9 November). Prof. Jeffrey Shaw, Chair Professor of the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University was invited as guest speaker to share his insights and experience in new media art on the topic “New Media Art – The Conjunction of Digital Technology and New Modes of Aesthetic Expression and Experience”.

In his talk, Prof. Shaw shared with the audience his experience in new media art throughout the years, from using inflatables and laser projections in his early projects to utilising the latest tracking systems in his recent creations. Prof. Shaw explained that interactivity is a key feature of new media art, as it allows viewers to engage with the works and become co-creators and performers of the artworks. This is accomplished by designing aesthetic and operational processes of participation and engagement.

Prof. Shaw has been a leading figure in new media art since the 1960s. In a prolific body of critically acclaimed works, he pioneered and set benchmarks for the creative use of digital media technologies in the fields of virtual and augmented reality, immersive visualisation environments, digital cultural heritage and interactive narrative. Prof. Shaw was the founding director of the ZKM Institute for Visual Media Karlsruhe in Germany (1991–2002). He is currently the Chair Professor of the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University, and Visiting Professor at CAFA Beijing and EPFL Switzerland.

HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing and Provost Prof. Reggie Kwan Ching-ping expressed their gratitude to Prof. Shaw for his inspirational talk. The participants found the talk enlightening and enthusiastically asked questions and exchanged views with Prof. Shaw on the development of new media art during the question-and-answer session.

To actively engage with the local community and to share knowledge with Hong Kong citizens, all the talks in the “Talk of the Metropolis” series will be broadcast in the University's weekly “Knowledge for All” TV programme on TVB Pearl. To learn more about the public lecture series or review the past videos, please visit https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/pao/talk-of-the-metropolis/.