HKILF Illustrated 2024 / August Newsletter

Thanks to Joanne Wong for designing our HKILF Illustrated visual

HKILF Illustrated
The Art of Leisure
14-17 November, 2024

HKILF Illustrated is growing, and returning for its second year, as a four-day event that celebrates the art of visual storytelling and nurtures creative opportunities for illustrators, book creators, and curious beginners. We aim to provide talks, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and other events that allow those working in illustration, fine art, publishing, and book making to learn and confer with fellow artists, writers, or industry professionals to help elevate their craft and promote literacy and language development through literary arts. Local and international experts will be featured in engaging events such as talks, workshops, panels, portfolio reviews and exhibitions, as well as providing opportunities for professional networking and cultural exchange.

Whether participants are award-winning creators or wide-eyed novices we invite our attendees to nurture the hobbyist in themselves. Stories are waiting to be told, painted or drawn. Our Illustration events will feature a densely packed schedule of workshops and inspiration to give festival goers an outlet for creativity.

Language: English and Chinese

Stayed tuned for our full lineup of events on Eventbrite!

HKILF Summertime Recap

HKILF Summertime 2024, a five-day event, showcased three rising literary stars: Mirinae Lee, Pim Wangtechawat, and Sheung-King. The authors discussed their acclaimed new works and publishing journeys at the Hong Kong Book Fair. A vibrant Lunch Panel with Hong Kong Shifts and a cozy Literary Lounge enabled book lovers to mingle and network. In two motivating workshops, aspiring writers learned about the craft of autofiction and character development.

Mirinae Lee kicked off our summer events with a fascinating conversation about the making of her debut novel 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster. We were happy to partner with the Hong Kong Book Fair once again.

Our Literary Lounge featuring Pim Wangtechawat, at Eaton House, was a highlight as it gathered so many friends and supporters. All our speakers were available to sign books and the room was abuzz with book talk and ideas for future events and collaborations.

Writers looking for support were happy to join our workshops, Sheung-King shared his in-depth knowledge on auto-fiction and Pim Wangtechawat helped with character building.

Our lunch panel included all our speakers and was a great way to spend the afternoon, full of reading recommendations. Cynthia Cheng and Maxime Vanhollebeke also introduced their recently published book, HK Shifts: Stories From the Streets of Hong Kong.

View the reel for the exciting details about Lunch Panel Event: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9zPHm_Ps6p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

HK Shifts Book Launch

From sampan ladies and bamboo scaffolders to street cleaners, fishermen, security guards and market vendors – these workers form the backbone of the fast-paced metropolis of Hong Kong, yet they are often overlooked or taken for granted. Looking beyond the glamorous harbourfront, neon-lit shopping districts and dramatic skyline, Hong Kong Shifts explores the back alleys to meet and learn from the individuals who work tirelessly to keep the city ticking. These are stories and portraits of resilience, wisdom, positivity and strength from the streets of Hong Kong. 

Published in July 2024 by Blacksmith Books, the hardcover book is bilingual (English and Cantonese) and presents a selection of colourful human stories from across Hong Kong. These stories have been collected since 2019 throughout the pandemic and document a unique chapter of Hong Kong’s history – paying tribute to this city and its people. The book is now available in bookstores across Hong Kong. More information about the book and where to get a copy here.

India by the Bay
“WORDS ON WATER”

India by the Bay is the only annual, week-long showcase of Indian arts, culture and heritage in Hong Kong. Each year, the festival captures the essence of India and its diversity, presenting an array of music, dance, theater, film, literature, wellness, fashion, and cuisine. For almost ten years, India by the Bay has acted as a cultural conduit, captivating and engaging the people of Hong Kong, while encouraging dialogue and partnerships. The festival is co-presented by the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. Now in its ninth edition, India by the Bay continues to emphasize the arts as a vibrant medium for fostering connections. A notable feature this year is a collaboration with the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, marking the first occasion that HKILF and India by the Bay have united to introduce esteemed authors and storytellers from across the globe to Hong Kong. Stay tuned for further updates!

Communication is Key

A special thank you to our PR partner, Amara Communications, who work tirelessly to reach as many people as possible with news of our events. In the 3 years we’ve been working with them, we have increased our coverage and our media contacts to bring the joy of reading to a wider audience and we look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.