HONG KONG.- MILL6 Foundation unveiled the identity and programming vision of the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT), the Foundation’s permanent home scheduled to open in Spring 2019. With over 17,000 square feet of potential exhibition space, the revitalised space in Tsuen Wan forms part of the heritage conservation project of The Mills, previously cotton spinning mills of Nan Fung Textiles. CHAT’s multi-faceted exhibition and co-learning programmes will be dedicated to interweaving contemporary art, design, heritage, and the community, underscored by a shared legacy of Hong Kong’s textile industry. CHAT will feature three exhibition spaces, a permanent collection space, multiple studios as well as creative rooms, all newly designed to support the education and outreach efforts of the organisation.

CHAT’s Mission
Hong Kong’s first and only art organisation focused on textiles, the programming of CHAT will reflect the legacy of the former cotton mills. Cotton yarn manufacture, is a process which inherently bridges different technologies, occupations, and fields from agriculture, engineering, scientific development, design to trade. This multidisciplinary approach is also at the core of CHAT’s programmes. With this progressive energy, CHAT will present a holistic series of programmes that weave together different communities, disciplines and practices, concurrently telling stories of history, politics, trade, and social economics.

CHAT’s Programmes

Exhibitions:
CHAT’s exhibition programmes will spotlight contemporary art and design in dialogue with textile heritage, and will feature two sectors: a Permanent Exhibition at The D. H. Chen Foundation Gallery, showcasing archival objects from the 1940s onwards, an interactive visual journey alongside experiential workshops; and Seasonal Exhibitions that foster cross-disciplinary experimentation to explore new possibilities of textile arts. The Spring Exhibitions will challenge conventional ideas of textile art through contemporary art exhibitions; the Summer Exhibitions feature participatory programmes that invite local communities into artistic production; and the Winter Exhibitions will be complemented by discussion forums that stimulate discourse and dialogue on design and innovation within the textile and fashion realms.

Co-Learning Platforms:
Concurrently, CHAT will present a multitude of Co-Learning platforms throughout the year, engaging the wider public through participatory workshops in collaboration with academic institutions, artist collectives, NGOs, artists and designers. CHAT Lab, formed by a group of textile veterans, experienced sewing workers and craftsmen, will offer a welcoming space for young emerging artists and designers to bring their ideas to fruition. CHAT will also continue to offer its Artist-in-Residence programme for international artists, providing meaningful opportunities for them to engage with Hong Kong’s culture and textile history.

CHAT Logo
In conjunction, CHAT proudly unveils its brand identity, a logo design that is rooted not only in the history of the cotton mills, but reflects the significance of textiles in contemporary society. Inspired by the most fundamental structure of warps and wefts in weaving textile, CHAT’s logo embodies the very mission of the organisation in interweaving diverse fields and voices into a multi-dimensional fabric full of endless possibilities. CHAT’s logo is a symbol that is as ancient as the most fundamental fabric structure, and yet it is also as contemporary as the hashtag.

Celebrating the announcement, Co-Directors of CHAT, TAKAHASHI Mizuki and TEOH Chin Chin note, “We are delighted to unveil Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT), this moment marks a new phase for Hong Kong and Asia’s textile arts and innovation. CHAT pays homage to the historic contributions the textile industry has made to our city’s social and economic progression. At the same time, our vision is to present innovative and interdisciplinary programmes that challenge the conventional understanding of textile arts, thereby generating myriad new interpretations and ideas of textiles. We are excited to invite our visitors on this journey of exploration, and hope that our dynamic and forward-thinking platform will inspire new experiences and perspectives.”