Book Talk: Thank you, Next

‘Thank you, Next’ is a project that deals with buildings not as static objects with fixed boundaries, but as dynamic, ever-changing entities that consist of materials, rich social biographies and complex afterlives. In a form of an exhibition located in a building demolished shortly afterwards, a panel discussion and a book, this work considers lost, present and future potential of buildings, spanning from material procurement and real estate to historical reconceptualizing and practical transformation. As no object lasts forever, buildings in Hong Kong are adapted, moved, destroyed, or fragmented; fragments taking on new lives as collected objects, new land, material, or spolia, some making it back to nature. Through installations made of collected construction waste, photographs, writing and dialogues, this works aims to reconsider the cultural and aesthetic concepts such as authenticity, heritage, collective memory, origins, and uses, in the context of Hong Kong’s relentless redevelopment.

This talk unveils the process behind ‘Thank You, Next’, encompassing research, exhibition production, and particularly the publication of the book, which became a tool for creating and organizing new thoughts, concepts, and ideas. Multiple parallel narratives and enriching exchanges with BEAU Architects @beau_architects are woven into this work and will be presented as part of the process. 

Join us for a sharing by Natasza Minasiewicz @ntszam followed by discussion with Max Harvey (book designer, director of @infoandupdates) and Daniel Ho @danielszho (senior editor at Tai Kwun and project director of BOOKED: Hong Kong Art Book Fair) on Saturday, Nov 16 at 4 PM