A Grand Scale Hong Kong Solo Debut Transforms the Atrium into a Tactile Art Experience

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 March 2026 – Today, LANDMARK proudly launches a new experience in its Art LANDMARK initiative with the unveiling of ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’, an ambitious installation by globally acclaimed artist Ayako Rokkaku — marking her most monumental and immersive art installation to date, in collaboration with GALLERY TARGET. From now until 17 April, LANDMARK Atrium is transformed into a vivid, tactile art experience — an unmissable fixture on Hong Kong’s cultural calendar – inviting visitors on a journey where imagination takes tangible form.

‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ marks Ayako Rokkaku’s highly anticipated Hong Kong solo debut and her largest installation worldwide within a commercial space — a reflection of LANDMARK’s commitment to bringing world-class artistic experiences to Central. Celebrated for her energetic, finger-painted works that have garnered immense popularity and praise across Asia, Rokkaku is one of the most sought-after voices in contemporary art, her canvases brimming with vibrant narratives and childlike wonder.

Step Inside ‘THE ISLAND– ONIGASHIMA’: An Interactive Dreamscape

Inspired by the mythical ‘Onigashima’ from Japanese folklore, Ayako Rokkaku thoughtfully selected this theme upon recognising the shared island geography of both Hong Kong and Japan. The artist’s vision further integrates Momotaro’s legendary ‘half-human, half-oni’ persona, which subtly symbolises the delicate boundary between dreams and reality. This fantastical quality inspired Rokkaku to infuse the art installation with a blend of childlike wonder and mystery, thereby blurring the lines between the artist and the audience.

Crafted with soft forms and inviting fabrics, ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ is designed not just to be observed, but to be experienced. Rising to an impressive 6 metres, the sculpture creates a sprawling organic topography within the Atrium, which has been curated with a museum-like approach to invite interaction. Visitors are encouraged to touch, feel, and even repose upon its rich textures, transforming passive viewing into active engagement, allowing them to create their own journey without a prescribed path. Imagine stepping into a colossal, living artwork of soft forms where every interaction becomes a part of its story. Within the Atrium, the artwork encompasses a captivating tunnel housing 12 wooden sculptures for intimate viewing and beautifully surrounded by 11 additional paintings.

Ayako Rokkaku presented a special performance to mark the opening of ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ by painting live at the installation. Witnessing her uninhibited gestures, layering vibrant pigments directly with her hands, offered a rare glimpse into the spontaneous creation of her iconic figures and landscapes. The session underscores her philosophy of direct artistic expression and the intimate connection between artist and creation. Later in the day, a cocktail party was hosted to celebrate the opening of the installation and featured dignitaries from around the region, including renowned Thai actor and singer Bright.

As a self-taught artist whose distinctive style emerged in 2006, Rokkaku blends manga influences with abstract and emotive colour fields that are often born spontaneously, without preparatory sketches, reflecting a raw and unmediated artistic impulse. Her signature motif — stylised wide-eyed girls surrounded by vibrant, multicoloured landscapes — has garnered global recognition, including the prestigious Illustration Prize at Takashi Murakami’s Geisai art fair. This collaboration is a further expression of LANDMARK’s ambition to bring the world’s most celebrated creative talents to Central, creating cultural experiences found nowhere else in Hong Kong.

Redefining Luxury Through Art: An Immersive Cultural Landmark

“Ayako Rokkaku’s ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ represents everything we believe a great experience should be — immersive, surprising, and something that stays with you,” said Mr. Alexander Li, Director and Head of Retail, Hong Kong & Macau, Hongkong Land Limited. “That she chose LANDMARK for this reflects our simple goal: to deliver experiences that are best-in-class and uniquely Central. That is the spirit of our ongoing Tomorrow’s CENTRAL transformation, and it is what ‘Experience is Central’ means to us.”

Exclusive Engagement and Collectibles: Extending the Artistic Journey

Beyond the Atrium, BELOWGROUND hosts a dedicated pop-up where visitors can acquire a piece of Rokkaku’s distinctive universe. This curated space features a collection of 9 original artworks and exclusive limited editions, including 1 print in an edition of 50 and 1 bronze sculpture in an edition of 3, alongside a range of bespoke merchandise. Visitors can choose from a range of limited-edition tote bags, apparel, books, scarves, and a unique lamp collaboration with AllRightsReserved. This offers visitors the opportunity to take a souvenir home from ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA’ and deepen their connection with Ayako Rokkaku’s unique artistic world.

For a holistic experience, visitors who begin their journey at BELOWGROUND are invited to explore the main installation in the Atrium for a different, interactive angle of ‘THE ISLAND – ONIGASHIMA‘.Adding to the immersive experience, MTR will launch a special digital Octopus card featuring the exhibition’s key visual, allowing the public to carry a piece of this art journey with them. Ayako Rokkaku will host an exclusive book signing event on March 24th at 6 PM. This special occasion offers visitors a unique opportunity to meet the renowned artist in person and acquire her latest publication, ‘Close To Your Treasure,’ directly on-site, complete with a personalized autograph. Further opportunities to engage with the artist through potential talks or panels will be announced shortly.

Hashtag: #LANDMARKHK

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About LANDMARK

LANDMARK represents the epitome of top-tier luxury shopping and lifestyle experiences. Drawing from a rich heritage which began in 1904 – LANDMARK today is the luxury shopping destination of Hongkong Land’s Central portfolio including 4 iconic connected buildings, LANDMARK ATRIUM, LANDMARK ALEXANDRA, LANDMARK CHATER and LANDMARK PRINCE’S. LANDMARK offers approximately 208 of the finest stores and restaurants, all seamlessly linked by pedestrian bridges. From high fashion and accessories to watches and jewellery, from luxury living to beauty and grooming, from international cuisine to authentic gourmet dining, LANDMARK brings the ultimate shopping experience to the discerning customer.

About BELOWGROUND

BELOWGROUND is a hybrid cultural and retail destination that serves as a bridge to ‘connect’ luxury retail with contemporary culture. By bringing together forward-looking brands, retailers, and creative collaborators, BELOWGROUND aims to shape a future in which no boundaries exist between luxury, fashion, culture and art. With the intention of being a thriving cultural ecosystem.

About Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. The Group focuses on developing, owning and managing ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. Its mixed-use real estate footprint spans more than 850,000 sq. m., with flagship projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. The Group’s Hong Kong Central portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. The Group has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures and five retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing. In Shanghai, the Group owns a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund, which is due to be completed in 2028. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

Democracy is on the defensive. This is shown by the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index 2026 (BTI). The BTI was first surveyed twenty years ago, when democracies were still in the majority. Today, 56 percent of the 137 countries surveyed by the BTI are ruled autocratically. However, this rarely leads to better governance. Autocracies are more susceptible to corruption, less capable of shaping the future, and less consensus-oriented. However, examples such as Poland and Brazil show that social resistance and political competition can pave the way back to democracy.

GÜTERSLOH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 26 March 2026 – A majority of 77 of the 137 states surveyed by the BTI are now ruled autocratically and are taking increasingly repressive action against the opposition, the media and civil society. Of these countries, 52 are hard-line autocracies in which fundamental rights are completely disregarded – more than at any time since the survey began in 2006. But autocratic tendencies are also gaining ground in numerous democracies. “Many elected governments have undermined core democratic institutions in order to stay in power, and this paves the way for autocracy,” says democracy expert Sabine Donner.

In 54 percent of the countries, elections no longer meet minimum standards. In some countries, such as Gabon or Niger, they were suspended after military coups, while in Belarus, Russia and Rwanda they are strictly controlled legitimizating rituals. However, numerous free and fair elections also led to peaceful changes of government. In Madagascar, Tanzania and Venezuela, mass protests following rigged elections were violently suppressed, but strengthened political mobilization beyond the election date.

Examples such as El Salvador, Serbia and Turkey show that the repeatedly touted promise of authoritarian efficiency is rarely fulfilled. Corruption is insufficiently combated in more than 100 countries, two thirds of which are autocracies. “In autocracies, loyalty must be rewarded and positions secured,” says BTI expert Hauke Hartmann. “The supposed efficiency of authoritarian regimes is a myth.”

However, persistent grievances continue to ensure that protests by dissatisfied citizens show no sign of abating. In Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, protests forced a democratic opening, while a democratic turnaround was achieved in Brazil and Poland. “The BTI shows how much pressure democratic institutions are coming under – at the same time, we are seeing remarkably lively resistance to their erosion in many places,” says Daniela Schwarzer, Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung. “This ability to mobilize, which comes above all from an active civil society, is a key potential for democratic renewal.”

www.bti-project.org

Additional information:
Since 2006, the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index has analyzed the quality of democracy, market economy and governance in 137 countries every two years. Currently, 23 OECD countries, such as Germany and the USA, are not part of the study. The study was carried out between February 1, 2023 and January 31, 2025.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Bertelsmann Stiftung

The Bertelsmann Stiftung is committed to ensuring that everyone can participate in society – politically, economically and culturally. We put people at the center of everything we do. Because it is people who can move the world, change it and make it a better place. To this end, we develop knowledge, impart skills and develop solutions. The non-profit Bertelsmann Stiftung was founded in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 March 2026 – On the afternoon of 21 March, the 2026 Ningbo Image Overseas Exhibition took place at the Hong Kong CineArt MegaBox. Using visual media as a connecting thread, the event built a bridge for cultural exchange between Ningbo and Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong audiences to experience the charm of Ningbo up close.

The event comprised three components: a Ningbo-themed film screening, a creative salon, and the ‘Experience Ningbo’ city exhibition, attracting enthusiastic participation from staff and students of Hong Kong Baptist University, as well as local cultural figures.

The Ningbo-themed film screening presented three films from Ningbo and five short films from the 30°Ningbo Short Film Festival, showcasing Ningbo’s cultural heritage and natural scenery through the lens.

The creative salon invited three guests—director Jiang Xiaoxuan, Hong Kong Baptist University lecturer Lai Kin-fung, and Southern Film Company Limited‌ Manager Lin Yunhua—to explore new avenues for the visual dissemination of local culture from the perspectives of film and television production and the cultural fusion between the two regions.

The “Experience Ningbo” exhibition, through the promotion of local cuisine and scenic beauty alongside displays of urban cultural and creative products, allowed audiences to experience Ningbo through both sight and taste. Many visitors expressed their desire to visit Ningbo in person.

This event created a “visible, tangible and portable” record of the city’s culture, further deepening cultural exchanges between Ningbo and Hong Kong. Moving forward, the film exhibition will tour more overseas cities, using the medium of film to promote Ningbo to the world.

Hashtag: #2026NingboImageOverseasExhibition

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.