How to be Happy Together? is an exhibition at the Hong Kong independent artist-run art institution, Para Site. The exhibit borrows its title and theme from the 1997 film Happy Together which was directed by Hong Kong’s very own master filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. Wong Kar Wai has often been credited for helping to shape Hong Kong’s trademark neon-filled aesthetics, the fact that Happy Together was also released around the time China was preparing to resume its sovereignty over Hong Kong, has also made the film an exemplary portrayal of the territory.
Now, by turning the film’s title into a question, Xiang Zairong, the curator of How to be Happy Together? investigates how 20 different international artists resonate with the film’s theme of finding ways to be happy together in today’s contemporary times. This investigation includes a particular focus on migrant worker’s rights and experiences, especially those who are working essential jobs, just like the lead characters of the movie. This is why the exhibition How to be Happy Together? at Para Site Hong Kong is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Reduced Inequalities and Decent Work And Economic Growth.
One example of this is the piece Orelhão by Shanghai-born Brazilian architect Chu Ming Silveira whose parents moved to São Paulo via Hong Kong after the 1974 Chinese Civil War. Their journey to South America echoes the journey made by Lai Yiu-fai (Tony Leung) and Ho Po-wing (Leslie Cheung), a couple of lovers who traveled from Hong Kong to Argentina in order to mend their already tumultuous relationship. As cited from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) there are now four million Latin Americans of Asian descent, and an estimated two million Brazilians identify as having East Asian ancestry, just like Silveira.
Her piece Orelhão, or big ear in Portuguese is her constructing her own version of the 1972 public telephone booths used throughout Brazil. The iconic ear-like design, which distinguished itself from the popular British phone booths, was made with practicality and cost-efficiency in mind, and was eventually exported to China. This creates more connections between the two countries, showing how migrant people and exported goods have made places such as China and Brazil far more connected than most people would think.
Other pieces such as Juntitud, an assembly of found items by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas also reflect on how entire cities and communities worldwide have been built from the ground up by immigrant populations, when previously, they had been deemed unlivable, further highlighting the importance of migrant communities. Hence, the exhibition becomes a tool to advocate for migrant rights in Hong Kong and beyond.
How to be Happy Together? at Para Site Hong Kong reimagines Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together as a lens to explore themes of migration, labour and cross-border connections in contemporary times. Featuring works by 20 international artists, the exhibition highlights the indispensable contributions of migrant workers while addressing systemic inequalities. Pieces such as Chu Ming Silveira’s Orelhão and Abraham Cruzvillegas’s Juntitud emphasize the interconnectedness of global cultures and the resilience of migrant communities in shaping cities and societies. The exhibition advocates for migrant rights and invites viewers to reflect on fostering inclusion and equity, making collective happiness an achievable goal.
Find out more about How to be Happy Together? and other initiatives by Para Site on their website www.para-site.art or Instagram @parasite.hk.