Emerging Designers Reimagine Chinese Motifs Across Physical and Digital Realms

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 April 2026 - Following its successful presentation at LANDMARK, Central in March, the 2nd MOTIFX – Embracing the Beauty of Chinese Culture will be showcased at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27 to 30 April 2026, as part of Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle 2026. Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle bring together a wide range of international brands celebrated for their craftsmanship and creativity, serving as a dynamic platform for exchange across the design and lifestyle industries while sparking new ideas and collaborations. Organised by the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) under the Vocational Training Council (VTC), and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the 2nd MOTIFX invites emerging designers to reinterpret traditional Chinese motifs for contemporary living. Under the theme "Culture to Nature – A Surreal Garden of Botanical Patterns," the exhibition explores the Chinese "grass" radical (艹 / 艸) through diverse creative perspectives. The works span a range of contexts and formats, from two- and three-dimensional pieces to both physical and digital mediums. Curated by Michael LEUNG, the exhibition features works by 30 local design students and emerging designers from a range of disciplines, alongside participating local and international designers including Chulan KWAK, Cynthia MAK, Made by Sandwich, Karmuel YOUNG, Tomy NG, Moon.noon, STICKYLINE, and Leona FUNG. Over 100 original patterns inspired by the 艹 / 艸 radical bloom in Chinese character across the exhibition space, each rooted in the same ancient, ever‑living origin yet expressing distinct creative voices. Artist Panel Discussion: "Cultural Fusion in Lifestyle Design: The Surreal Aesthetics of MOTIFX"30 Apr 2026 | 11am-12pm On 30 April 2026, in an artist panel discussion titled "Cultural Fusion in Lifestyle Design: The Surreal Aesthetics of MOTIFX," moderated by Edith CHEUNG, Creative Director of MOTIFX, curator Michael LEUNG, artist Leona FUNG, and Moon HUNG will share their insights on blending traditional Chinese elements with contemporary lifestyle design. Through their works across multiple MOTIFX venues, they will discuss the effortless fusion of East and West in Hong Kong's creative life, revealing the surreal beauty born from cultural intersection. Featured Highlights: From Calligraphic Lines to Gardens of Time Chulan KWAK – "Cursive Structure" Chulan KWAK's Cursive Structure series transforms two‑dimensional calligraphy into three‑dimensional objects. Inspired by the flowing strokes of Caoshu (草書) and the Small Seal Script (小篆體) form of the 艹 / 艸 radical, the work turns "Radical Grass (艹 / 艸)" into a pair of low chairs. By keeping the distinction between 艹 / 艸 and 木 (tree), the pieces are set apart from the vertical form of trees and bring the energy and tension of calligraphic brushwork into physical space. Cynthia MAK – "Tea Lamp" Drawing inspiration from the Chinese character 茶 （tea） and the poetic essence of "Life is like tea – bitter at first, then sweet," Cynthia reflects on life's delicate balance between darkness and brightness in her creation, "Tea Lamp". She reimagines the traditional Chinese lantern through vibrant colours and geometric abstraction, which serves as a warm reminder that, after a bitter day, a gentle radiance always awaits at home. Made by Sandwich – "Garden of States" Made by Sandwich's Garden of Time probes the philosophical relationship between the 艹/ 艸 radical and time. The designers argue that numerous 艹/艸 – derived characters (such as 茂, 蘇, 萎, 荒) illustrate the shifting conditions of plants across time rather than static shapes. The work breaks away from a linear conception of time, layering moments of growth, decline, and disappearance onto a single visual. By assembling these "time slices" into one composition, it constructs a garden of time in which multiple states coexist, showing the simultaneous presence of flourishing and disappearance. Karmuel YOUNG & Tomy NG - "Tower" Inspired by the radical grass symbol (艹 / 艸), Karmuel YOUNG and Tomy NG collaborate on the multimedia work, "Tower". A still yet highly charged installation that captures a moment of growth, "Tower" fuses art, fashion, and furniture using contemporary raw materials, dutifully interpreting growth as a process of emergence, layering, and change. Karmuel shapes the base on Suprematist and Constructivist ideas, using rigid geometric forms and a neutral palette to highlight the texture of the materials, creating a stable, balanced yet restrained structure. Tomy adds a glowing...