BIO/CV



Sin Wah Lai is an interdisciplinary artist. She holds a BFA in Fine Arts from Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan (2014) and an MA in Fine Art and Design from HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, the Netherlands (2020). Her practice involves illustration, in-situ collage, installation, performance and participatory experience. The displays often combine moving images, organic materials, natural elements, texts, voices, and bodily intervention. Lai's research explores ways of thinking beyond the human and non-human divide. She tells stories in response to the living spaces where beings co-exist. By poetically looking into minute moments that happen everywhere around the environment, the works uncover the intimate relations between one's inner perception, community, and the outside world.


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b. 1991, currently in Hong Kong


Education

De Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU), Netherlands
Master of Arts in Fine Art and Design (MA), 2018-2020

Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), Taiwan
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Painting and Multimedia major, 2010-2014

HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity (HKSC), Hong Kong
Environmental and Spatial Studies major, 2008-2010

Community Project / Lecture / Workshop
Healing Hours”, workshop, WAC International Encounters/Conference, Prespes, GR, 2023
“Healing Hours”, workshop, HKICC School of Creativity, HK, 2023
“Dancing Landscape x Presentscape”, workshop, Walking Art and Relational Geographies, Catalonia, ES, 2022
“Presentscape”, presentation, Travelling Farm Museum Tour, Casco Art Institute, Utrecht, NL, 2022
“Walking Practice in 2021”, presentation, MA Fine Art HKU, Utrecht, NL, 2022
“Diverse Experiences of Food, Walk and Community #1&2”, guest lecture, HK Institute of Education, HK, 2022
“Emotions, Storytelling and Self-empowerment”, guest lecture, HK Institute of Education, HK, 2021
“Postcard from Kitchen”, community project, online, 2021
“Presentscape”, installation & performance, In-habit-ants Festival, Chorin, DE, 2021
“Walking Journal”, workshop, International Walking Arts Conference, Prespes, GR, 2021
“Unknown Recipes of Everyday Ingredients”
, community project, a series of private spaces & BAK-basis voor actuele kunst, HK & Utrecht, NL, 2019
“Freezing the Vanishing”, presentation, Helsinki Research Pavilion, Venice, IT, 2019
“Learn from Land-Gift from Land”, community project, Mapopo Community Farm, HK, 2016
“OMAK Lab”co-curating exhibition, School of Everyday Life, HK, 2016
“Walking in Sing Ping”, community project, Sing Ping Village, HK, 2015
“Starting from School, Knowing Toilet Papers”, community project, AAA Dream Museum Project, HKSC & HKArtFair09, HK, 2009

Performance
Baa4 Baa1”, performance, HK Fringe Club & Praya Gallery & Oikwan Barber's, HK, 2023
R.U.R, Part II”, performance, Re-connect Art, Prague Biennale, Prague, CZ, 2023
Time Square”, performance, Unlock Dancing Plaza, HK, 2023
Monumento Zea”, digital performance, Ana Lama Gallery & Cerveira International Art Biennial, PT, 2022
Neither Fish Nor Fowl”, theatre performance, Cultural Masseur Festival, HK, 2022
“Freezing the Vanishing”, performance, Art & Cultural Outreach Bookstore, HK, 2021
“After June”, performance, Crossing Border, Border Crossing International Festival of Intermedia, JCCAC, HK, 2017
“Hong Kong er...”, performance, 136.10 Hertz-4th International Performance Art Week, Luisa Catucci Gallery, Berlin, DE, 2017

Exhibition
Solo
“What Has Truly Become Charcoal, Has Now Become Part Of Us”, Out-post Gallery, Gouveia, 2021
“Cotton Language, Cotton Road”, Na-bei Gallery, TNUA, Taipei, 2014
Group
Mutual Support Platform,  Casco Art Institute, Utrecht, NL, 2022
In-progress”, Gallery In-between & Cheung Chau Wave, HK, 2023
Made In Hong Kong”, Art Central, HK, 2022
“Being Soil”, Let It Be, HK, 2022
“Family Dinner: Hospitality, Sharing and Gifts”, Hof van Noord, Rotterdam, 2022
“If Not Now” MA Grad Show, BAK-basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, 2020
Fotan Open Studios, Fo Tan industrial district, HK, 2017
“Learn from Land-Gift from Land”, Mapopo Community Farm, HK, 2016
“Let’s Break Up!” BFA Grad Show, Underground Experimental Field (UEF), TNUA, Taipei, 2014
“8th Art Scholarship Exhibition by Long Yen Foundation”, UEF, TNUA, Taipei, 2014
“New Voices of Art” Selected Art Graduates in Taiwan, Da Dun Gallery, Taichung, 2014
“Out of the Artroom” Ricky Yeung Student Artwork Show, 1a Space, HK, 2014
“Troubled Water”, the Gallery, University of the Arts London, London, 2013
“Tang-Yuè-Yú-Guì-Dàn”, Chinese Ink Gallery, TNUA, Taipei, 2013
“E04” 26th Exhibition of Fine Arts, UEF, TNUA, Taipei, 2012
"Girls and Females.”, Eight and a Half Art Space, TNUA, Taipei, 2012
“I Like U” 99th BFA Group Show, UEF, TNUA, Taipei, 2012
“Bubble Star” 24th Exhibition of Fine Arts, UEF, TNUA, Taipei, 2010
“1st Grad Show of HKSC-F.7”, the Gallery, HKSC, HK, 2010
“From May 4 to June 4” Performing Arts and Others, JCCAC, HK, 2009
“Point to Point” Community Project on Pinhole Photography, JCCAC, HK, 2008

Residency
Residencia Internacional d'Art Can Serrat, Catalonia, ES, 2022
Family Dinner, Online/Rotterdam, NL, 2021
Out-post Gallery, Gouveia, PT, 2021

Publication
“Shadow, Shadow!”, limited zine, untitled collective publication, NL, 2022
“Postcard From Kitchen”, limited letterpress, Pear Paper, NL, 2021(ongoing)
“Forest Exercise#2-KIU Collective”, Human Body is Art, Bruxelles Art Vue, BE, 2021
“Things Happen in My House”, self-publication, NL, 2020
“Maybe we can go there, maybe there’s nothing.”, Walking Journal, digital publication, NL, 2020
“Spirituality”, Hymns Collection, HK Fanling Lutheran Secondary School, HK, 2018
“The Lunar Calendar”, column
#263-275, T&D Monthly, TW National Training Institute for Farmers' Organisation, TW, 2012

Interview / Reference
“A Review of Sin Wah Lai's Residency”, Bert Jonkers, Out-post Gallery, PT, 2021
“Graduation Shows 2020-HKU MAFA-Op zoek naar support”, Minke van Schaik, Metropolis M, NL, 2020
“If Not Now-Radio Program”, HKU MAFA, Stream 2, Stranded FM, NL, 2020
“Storytelling through multimedia art with Sinwah Lai”, Aldis Art, Walk the Talk, 2020
“Sunday Market: Local Farm-Simmer Gourd, Taste Veg”, Pui-yee Wong, Apple Daily, HK, 2016
“Our Farmland's Club-Walk in Sing Ping”, Amber Au, CR2, FM 90.3 MHz, Commercial Radio HK, HK, 2015
“Our Farmland's Club-Festival In Sing Ping”, Amber Au, #734, Milk Magazine, HK, 2015
“Go Green x Green Life-Walk In Sing Ping”, May, #831, Weekend Weekly, HK, 2015
“To Talk About Education With Teacher”, Summer Ho, #2411, Ming Pao Weekly, HK, 2015
“Early Art Experience: Object (No. 18)-Body”, Ricky Yeung, Ming Pao Daily, HK, 2014
“Performance Art Graduates: Society Confounded Black & White”, Chun-him Lam, Apple Daily, HK, 2014
“Early Art Experience: City (No. 34)-Dream”, Ricky Yeung, Ming Pao Daily, HK, 2013
“Early Art Experience: Today's HK-Sound, Tech, City”, Ricky Yeung, Ming Pao Daily, HK, 2011
“Early Art Experience: 4 June-20th”, Ricky Yeung, Ming Pao Daily, HK, 2009

Award
Emerging Artists Grant, Hong Kong Arts Development Council, 2023
Excellent Award, Solo Exhibition Scholarship, TNUA, 2014 
Excellent Award, Long Yen Foundation, 2014
Outstanding Award in Multimedia-26th Exhibition of Fine Arts, TNUA, 2012
The Commendation of LAU Tin Ming, HKSC, 2010
Good Design Award-Environmental and Spatial Studies, HKSC, 2009
Outstanding Project Award-Environmental and Spatial Studies, HKSC, 2008
Grand Prize-Creative Category (Senior), CreateHK2020, 2008
Academic Award in Visual Arts, HKSC, 2008

Collection
Long Yen Foundation, Taiwan

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Last edited: Dec 2023