Cyanne van den Houten: Ghost in the Garden

Videotage is proud to present "Ghost in the Garden" (幽園弱訊), a solo exhibition by Dutch artist and artisan Cyanne van den Houten. Drawing inspiration from the phantasmagoria—an early form of theatre that manipulated light and shadow to create illusory experiences—this exhibition transforms the gallery into a space of technological ruin and digital haunting. During her six-week residency in Hong Kong, van den Houten traversed the city to identify sites of obsolete technology, reimagining how discarded machines and abandoned data infrastructures continue to exist within our hyper-modern landscape.

The Exhibition Narrative

In this exhibition, "ghosts" are not merely entities to be feared but are material manifestations of past knowledge and failed experiments. By integrating electronic sculptures, generative coding, and field recordings, the artist challenges the narrative that technology is always a seamless, progressive force. Instead, she reveals how these devices remain entangled with human labor, power structures, and the weight of capitalistic history. Visitors will navigate an environment defined by flickering lights and low-frequency sounds, where the artist’s self-built "spirit-hunting" devices continuously monitor and translate airflow, heat, and network signals into visible data.

Artistic Vision

Van den Houten’s work probes the intersection of philosophy and sensory experience. Her installations act as bridges between the physical decay of urban sites and the intangible flow of energy that still occupies those spaces. Through these intricate installations, she forces us to confront the digital specters that haunt our cities, reminding us that every piece of 'obsolete' hardware contains a lingering history. This exhibition is a must-see for those interested in media arts, urban archaeology, and the intersection of technology and art in contemporary society.

Visitor Information

• Date: May 16, 2026 – June 14, 2026
• Venue: V54, 54 Village Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
• Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday (Closed Monday/Tuesday)
• Admission: Please contact Videotage for full details on exhibition programming and related talks.

As part of this event, visitors should also look forward to the curated artist walkthroughs which provide deeper insight into the creation of these "spirit-hunting" devices. We encourage guests to explore the historical significance of the V54 site itself, which complements the exhibition's theme of re-contextualizing historical spaces. Whether you are a fan of generative art or simply intrigued by the hidden narratives of Hong Kong’s industrial past, this exhibition offers a profound sensory journey.