Memory and Rebirth: Hong Kong Exiled Artists Hold Exhibit in Southampton, UK
Udumbara
A one-day Hong Kong art exhibition will be held at Mayflower Studios in Southampton, UK, on June 7, presenting the persistence and hope of the Hong Kong people in a dispersed environment.
Local church City Life Church Southampton organized the event and invited the exiled Hong Kong artist couple “Lumli Lumlong,” who currently reside in London, to hold a solo exhibition.
Lumli and Lumlong are artists who have exhibited in Paris, New York, Prague, and other locations.
This exhibition features 20 of their recent oil paintings, divided into three chapters: “Night,” “Dawn,” and “Day.” It starts with the 2019 Hong Kong protests and extends to the identity reconstruction and spiritual regeneration of Hong Kong immigrants in the UK.
Through the faces of the characters, the exhibition expresses the power of holding onto beliefs in the face of displacement and political oppression, according to the curator.
“The vision of this exhibition is to unite the British and Hong Kong communities,” said curator Elaine, who requested that only her first name be used. “It’s not only about reflecting on the 2019 Hong Kong democracy movement, but also about remembering why we chose to start anew in this land of hope—and to keep moving forward with love, hope, and resilience.”
The exhibition invites British society—as well as anyone who cares about dignity, justice, and freedom—to gain a deeper understanding of why so many Hong Kong people chose to put down roots here, she said. It also encourages appreciation of the universal human values that transcend regions and cultures.
“This is not just an art exhibition; it’s also a reunion, a memory, and a rebirth,” said Elaine.
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Mayflower Studios in Southampton, UK. Courtesy of Mayflower Studios
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An opening ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in Southampton, with Mayor James Baillie and church leader Paul Woodman in attendance to show their support. The artists will also be present to discuss their creative processes. Artist-guided tours will be available throughout the day in English and Cantonese.
Exhibition information: “FACES o'CLOCK: The Reborn Hong Kong Diaspora Exhibition”
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Venue: Mayflower Studios, 142-144 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU
