(first name: Wai)
is a multidisciplinary artist, former photographer, storyteller, educator, gamer, cat companion and more..
Lau was born and raised in Hong Kong, currently lives and works in New York. They utilize personal and historical archives, cinematic imagery, popular culture, and emerging technologies to investigate how history, fiction, personal memory, and virtuality collide in the process of identity formation. Their practice involves moving images, new media, photography, sculptural objects, and installation.
Their works are collected by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (United States); Alexander Tutsek – Stiftung Foundation (Germany), and M+ (Hong Kong, China), among others. They have exhibited at international events and institutions, including Brandts Museum of Art and Visual Culture, Denmark (2016); Power Station of Art, Shanghai (2018); Para Site, Hong Kong (2015, 2018); Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong (2019, 2021); Kuandu Biennale, Taiwan (2018); Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Japan (2015); The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, United States (2019) and Yokohama Triennale, Japan (2020).
They have also participated in residency programs at LES Studio Program, a program of Artists Alliance Inc., New York; NARS Foundation, New York; Institute for Electronic Arts, Alfred University, New York; and Harvestworks Technology Immersion Program (TIP), New York. They have taught at School of Visual Arts, New York, and The City University of New York.
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Solo Exhibitions:
2024
W.A.I. The Cast of the Invisible, Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space, New York
WAI TV, New Park, Hong Kong
2021
– – – – – – – – / / / / – – –, Mou Projects, Hong Kong
2018
The Memories of Tomorrow, Lumenvisum, Hong Kong
2017
(Dual-solo) Photo Booth, Para Site, Art Basel Hong Kong
2014
Here, (International Solo exhibition section) Staging Encounters: 10 Years of Contemporary Photography in China, Lianzhou Foto Festival, Guangdong, China
Triennale / Biennale:
2020
Afterglow, Yokohama Triennale, Japan
2018
Seven Questions for Asia, Kuandu Biennale, Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan
2015
Asia Photography and Image Center, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Niigata, Japan
Group Exhibitions (Selected):
2024
Photographic Geomancy: Images, Fieldwork, and the Poetics of Geography, Times Museum, Guangzhou, China
Both Sides Now IX: Generations, Videotage, Hong Kong; The Horse Hospital, United Kingdom; esea contemporary, United Kingdom; Fabrica, United Kingdom
History, Everyday Life, and Imagination: Chinese Contemporary Photography, Saddleback Art Gallery, Saddleback University, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
2023
Offworlds, YveYANG Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
The Rose, Lumber Room, Portland, U.S.A.
White Lodge, Island Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Alt-World: Tactics of Evasion, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
(Screening) Citrus Worlds, Organized by Asia Society Hong Kong Center at Art Central, Hong Kong, China
Untold Narratives – A Seductive Echo, Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, New York, U.S.A.
2022
Neither Here Nor There, Lydian Stater, New York, U.S.A.
A Place for Concealment, Galerie Urs Meile Beijing, China
/'kapCH?r/, NARS Foundation Main Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Lunarian, Denny Dimin Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Narratives, Stories, Algorithms: Rethinking Independence in Digital Times, 630 Flushing Ave, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
2021
(Digital Commissioned Project) 2³ or Not 2³: East Kowloon is on Minecraft, New Vision Arts Festival 2021, Hong Kong, China
Standing Out, the Outstandings, Latitude Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
The Unsung, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong, China
(Screening) Theme III: Cyberspace + Memetics, Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China
Women Gaze, La Galerie Paris 1839, Hong Kong, China
(OVR) Soft Network, Altman Siegel, San Francisco, U.S.A.
2020
Nanjing Art Fair International x G Museum: Special Program, Nanjing International Expo Center, Nanjing, China
Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel, Hong Kong, China
Minorly Magical, K&P Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Museum of Half Truths, 1a space, Hong Kong, China
Diagonal, Magician Space, Beijing, China
Zoom-in screening series, Lenfest Center for the Arts, , Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
Denny Dimin Gallery, Untitled Art Fair, San Francisco, U.S.A.
2019
A History of Photography: Selections from the Museum’s Collection, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, U.S.A.
ISCP Benefit Auction Exhibition, Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Very Natural Actions, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong, China
INSIGHTS Exhibition, PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai 2019, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
FotoFest/ INTERSECT, Silver Street Studios, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
On the Map, Denny Dimin Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Aesthetically Functional Only, 1675 Broadway, New York, U.S.A.
Courses of Action, Goethe-Institut, Hong Kong, China
MFA first year exhibition,The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Lenfest Center for the Arts, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
2018
Time/Space: Brief as Photo- Dialogue between Joseph Fung and his Contemporaries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, China
Lianzhou Foto Festival, Guangdong, China
Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre, Xiamen, China
A Tree Fell in the Forest, and No One's There, Emerging Curators Project 2018, Power Station of Art (PSA), Shanghai, China
Crush, Para Site, Hong Kong, China
Follow Me, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
Relativity Hypothesis, J: Gallery, Shanghai, China
2017
Follow Me- New Narratives in Contemporary Photography, China-Switzerland, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT Shanghai), Shanghai, China
2016
->, Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Sojourn with Stranger, Mur Nomade, Hong Kong, China
Les Photaumnales– Love Hong Kong: La photographie hongkongaise (1950-2015), Le Quadrilatère, Beauvais, France
Denmark FOTOBIENNALEN 2016 - Cities and Memory, Brandts Museum of Art and Visual Culture, Odense, Denmark
Hong Kong International Photo Festival - Voices: Cross Vision on French and Hong Kong Photography, Comix Home Base, Hong Kong, China
Singapore International Photo Festival - A Room with a View, Earl Lu Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore
Argentina International Photo Festival (Encuentros Abiertos- Festival de la Luz) - Yuen Yeung, Museo de Aries Plasticas Eduardo Sivori, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Adrift, OCAT Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
2015
A Room With A View: Her Hong Kong-Stories Through the Lens of Six Female Artists, Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery, CVA Building, HKBU, Hong Kong, China
Imagine There's No Country, Above Us Only Our Cities, Para Site, Hong Kong, China
The 6th Dali International Photography Festival, Dali, China
The 7th TSPA Three Shadows Photography Award Exhibition , Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, China
100 Self-Portraits of Hongkongese, S201, Staunton, PMQ, Hong Kong, China
Xitek 2014 New Foto Award Exhibition, Beijing World Art Museum, Beijing, China
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Education:
MFA Visual Arts, Columbia University School of the Arts, New York. Class of 2020
BA (Hons) Fine Art (Studio Practice and Contemporary Critical Studies),
Goldsmiths, University of London. Class of 2007
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Collections:
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, U.S.A.
Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung Foundation, Germany
M+, Hong Kong, China
Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre, Xiamen, China
The Warden’s Collection, Goldsmiths, University of London, U.K.
Private collections
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Awards / Fellowships / Residencies (Selected):
2024
Harvestworks Technology Immersion Program (TIP), New York, U.S.A.
2022 - 2023
LES Studio Program, a program of Artists Alliance Inc., New York, U.S.A.
2022
NARS Foundation International Residency, New York, U.S.A.
2021
Institute for Electronic Arts (IEA) Experimental Projects Residency, Alfred University, New York, U.S.A.
2018-2020
Visual Arts Scholarship, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A
2018-2020
Visual Arts Fellowship, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A
2018
Nominee, Jimei x Arles Discovery Award, Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Xiamen, China
2015
Finalist, The 7th TSPA Three Shadows Photography Award, Beijing, China
Finalist, Xitek 2014 New Photo Award, Beijing, China
2007
First Prize, Small Pictures Exhibition, Salisbury Arts Centre, U.K.
The Warden’s Art Prize, Goldsmiths, University of London, U.K.
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Publication Features (Selected):
2023
Seeking Roland Barthes’ Neutral: The Art of Sharon Lee Cheuk-wun and Lau Wai by Yang YEUNG, Hong Kong Studies Journal (Volume 3, Numbers 2), The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press
2021
An Archeology of the White Gaze, Ying Xiang Journal, France
2017
Golden Records GR-02092017, Fotogalleriet, Oslo, Norway
The Unappropriated Recipes, Para Site, Hong Kong, China
2012
About Us, About Life & About the City, Asia One Publishing, Hong Kong, China
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Press (Selected):
- 號外 City Magazine Hong Kong, Samwai Lam, Mar 2023 (in chinese)
- Feature on Foundwork, selected by Elizaveta Shneyderman, online, Feb 2023
- Artforum 艺术论坛, Interviews, “Deepfake, Skins and memories”(刘卫谈deepfake、皮肤和记忆), Qu Chang 瞿畅, online, July 2021 (in chinese)
- The Standard (Hong Kong), Art & Culture, Cara Chen, Aug 2021
- LEAP艺术界, feature专题 “动不动”, Ren Yue 任越, Mar 2021 (in chinese)
- Post Magazine, South China Morning Post, “Re:orient”, Enid Tsui, Oct 2020
- Columbia School of the Art, "Uncovering the Heritage Silhouette: Lau Wai '20", Brittany Nguyen, online, Oct 2020
- Art+Education, “Exhibitions: Columbia University School of the Arts”, online, Sep 2020
- Artforum International, “MFA Spotlight: Columbia University School of the Arts”, online, Aug 2020
- 明報副刊 Mingpao Daily Hong Kong, 14 Aug 2020 (in chinese)
- 星島副刊 Sing Tao Daily Hong Kong, 20 Aug 2020 (in chinese)
- 號外 City Magazine Hong Kong, “Up and Coming”, Samwai Lam, Issue 521, Feb 2020 (in chinese)
- M+ Stories, “How Blade Runner cyberpunk-ed Hong Kong”, Hugh Davies, online, August 2019
- Discovery (inflight magazine for Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon), “Meet the leaders of Hong Kong’s art scene”, Christopher DeWolf, March 2019
- Doors agency, “10 Chinese Photographers To Watch in 2019”, 2019
- Artforum 艺术论坛, Critics’ Picks 展评, “CRUSH at Para Site" 黯恋, Wu Mo 武漠, online, October 2018 (in chinese)
- Hong Kong Tatler, “10 Hong Kong Art Exhibitions To See in October”, Oliver Giles, online, October 2018
- South China Morning Post, “Hong Kong artist pokes fun at Hollywood’s portrayal of ‘the Orient”, Kylie Knott, July 2018
- Photography is Art Magazine, Hong Kong, Issue 06, 2018 (in chinese)
- 蘋果日報 Apple Daily Hong Kong, July 2018 (in chinese)
- 艺术世界 ArtWorld, “Broken Memories and Potential Interventions”(破损的记忆与潜在的干预), Wang Huan 王欢, Issue 320, July 2017 (in chinese)
- Chinese Photography Magazine, China, Issue 457, July 2017 (in chinese)
- Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA), Singapore, online, April 2017
- HK01, Art Basel Hong Kong review, online, March 2017 (in chinese)
- Fisheye Magazine, France, Issue 20, Sep-Oct 2016 (in french)
- Voice of Photography Magazine (VOP), Taiwan, Issue 17, Dec 2015- Jan 2016 (in chinese)
- Art Plus, Hong Kong, Issue Dec 2015 (in chinese)
- The Eye of Photography, France, 2014 (in french)
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Artist's Talks/ Lectures/ Panel discussions (Selected):
2020
Family Albums: the Private Memories and Social History, WMA Open Talk, Wyng Foundation, Hong Kong
Artist Panel Discussion (Webinar), Museum of Half Truths Exhibition, 1a Space, Hong Kong
PS Paid Studio Visit (Online), Para Site, Hong Kong
Panelist, Panel discussion (Webinar): Hong Kong: Tales of the City, Denny Dimin Gallery, New York
2018
Panelist, Panel discussion: Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre, Xiamen, China
Artist’s talk: The Memories of Tomorrow, Lumenvisum, Hong Kong
Artist’s talk: The Memories of Tomorrow, OCAT Shenzhen, China
2016
Panelist, Panel discussion: Les Photaumnales– La photographie hongkongaise (1950-2015), Le Quadrilatère, Beauvais, France
2015
Artist’s talk: A Room with A View, Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Artist’s talk: Imagine There's No Country, Above Us Only Our Cities exhibition, Para Site, Hong Kong
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Teaching experience (Selected):
2023-current
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Photography & Imaging Program, Art Department, Queens College, The City University of New York
Visiting Artist, BFA Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, New York
2022
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Photography & Imaging Program, Art Department, Queens College, The City University of New York
Visiting Artist, BFA Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, New York
2020
(Summer) Visiting Artist, Bachelor of Arts (Photography), RMIT University / Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong
Visiting Artist, ICP-Bard, New York (webinar)
Teaching Assistant, Photography: Photo I class, Columbia University, New York (hybrid)
2019
(Summer) Visiting Artist, Bachelor of Arts (Photography), RMIT University / Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong
Teaching Assistant, Photography: Photo I class, Columbia University, New York
Visiting Artist, BFA in Photography, The Cooper Union, New York
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