Meet the Artist

Li Yip Fuk (Jack) is an Artist of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong and Associate Royal Photographic Society (ARPS). Jack’s journey in photography began with the support of the Hong Kong Association of the Deaf and the mentorship of Mr. Au-yeung Chi-kong. With different trainings at Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, he started to overcome various challenges posed by hearing impairment and capture diverse environments with his camera.

Over the years, Jack has received various achievements in both local and international photography competitions. He has also represented Hong Kong to join the Abilympics for three times overseas (in Japan, South Korea, and France) where he earned two gold awards and one silver award. Additionally, Jack has collaborated with various organisations in photography projects. He hopes to encourage more people with disabilities to explore photography, broaden their horizons and express their inner worlds through artistic creation.

Speaking about the SPARK project, Jack said,

In this work, I focus on the theme of sleep and dreams, hoping to present a surreal style that showcases imaginative thinking. I explore the importance of sleep for physical health. Through this opportunity, I aim to break free from the constraints of my past creations, using my photography skills to piece together a world that relates to everyday life while transcending reality.

What is Locked World?

Locked World is a radically accessible digital arts space conceived by BOP Young Artists. The artworks all have accessibility creatively embedded into the work. This creatively embedded access is vital to artworks created by BOP.

The term ‘Locked World’ means different things to different people. To some, it may mean feeling excluded from the world, while to others it may mean advocating for their right to privacy from doctors, benefits assessors and passing strangers.

You can visit Locked World <here> to see previously commissioned works.

What is SPARK?

SPARK is a space for creativity, collaboration and visionary thinking. A British Council festival combining face-to-face and online elements, it offers a platform for cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the UK, celebrating connections and inclusion in our communities.

SPARK III: Healthy Futures Festival 2024 focuses on the theme of Health and Wellbeing for young adult audiences.

Find out more about SPARK III <here>.

What is Telepresence?

Telepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, and to give the appearance or effect of being present via telerobotics, at a place other than their true location. In this project, audience members will feel as if, and look as if, they are present in the storytelling piece. You can view Telepresence Stage showreel video <here> for inspiration.

Jack’s peice responds to the themes of ‘health and wellbeing’ and ‘Locked World’, enabling a young adult audience to engage interactively with the stories being explored.

This digital storytelling work will be experienced in-person at SPARK festival in Hong Kong and also remotely via Locked World.

Audiences can choose to engage with the artwork in an ‘active’ or more ‘passive‘ role:

When ‘active’, audience members will appear in the Telepresent artwork via webcam (as you can see in the screengrab above), either: in-person in an individual booth at the SPARK festival OR via the Locked World website anywhere in the world. Because the storytelling piece is short, lots of people can have the chance to participate!

When ‘passive’, an audience member will watch the artwork (with the ‘active’ audience members in it!) either in-person on a large screen at SPARK festival OR on the Locked World website.