Open the Box 2026: A Pleasant Place with Ryan Villamael
Filipino artist Ryan Villamael presents an immersive participatory exhibition at Tai Kwun's JC Contemporary from July to August 2026, inviting the public to co-create a paper-crafted 'pleasant place'.
- When
4 Jul 2026 - 2 Aug 2026 11:00 - 19:00
- Location
Tai Kwun, JC Contemporary
Hong Kong Island Central Central and Western
10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
- Tickets & pricing
Co-creation session fee
HKD 90
Overview
Quiet gardens, floating islands, and hidden dens—this is 'Open the Box 2026: A Pleasant Place with Ryan Villamael.' This slow-growing, participatory project, conceived by Filipino artist Ryan Villamael, invites participants of all ages to join forces in creating a vast canopy made of paper. As time progresses, the multilayered, hanging foliage gradually intertwines to form a shared, collective landscape.
'Locus Amoenus,' a Latin term referring to an idealized, dreamlike pastoral space of shelter, fertility, and harmony, serves as the inspiration for Villamael's ongoing series. Through meticulous paper-cutting techniques, the artist explores historical and collective memories, untangling the rich layers that constitute a sense of place and the invisible threads that connect individuals to it. Visitors are invited to wander through this immersive, forest-like environment and contribute to its continuous growth by crafting leaf clusters, vines, or abstract topographic fragments, reflecting their personal interpretations of a 'pleasant place.'
About the Artist
Ryan Villamael (born in Laguna, Philippines, 1987) is a contemporary artist renowned for constructing elaborate sculptures from paper. Over the past decade, his practice has evolved from small-scale soft sculptures to large-scale installations. Drawing inspiration from traditional Filipino paper-cutting, he investigates the tensions within history, collective memory, and place. His accolades include the Ateneo Art Award (2015) and the Thirteen Artists Award (2021). His works have been exhibited globally at institutions including the Palais de Tokyo, the Singapore Biennale, and Para Site in Hong Kong.
Ticketing
The exhibition takes place at JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun. Co-creation sessions run from July 4 to July 26, 2026, with a fee of HK$90. The venue is closed on Mondays. Opening hours are 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM from Tuesday to Friday, and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Please check the official Tai Kwun website for more details.
Venue & Access
The event is held at 1-F, JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central.
