Hong Kong Design Centre, in collaboration with local new media artist Henry Chu, proudly presents ‘Piano in the Woods: Three Dialogues of the Four Seasons’, a new immersive interactive exhibition. Supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) as lead sponsor and Art-Partners as creative partner, the exhibition blends art-tech and music, inviting viewers to ‘converse with the forest’. Through real-time visual imagery and soundscapes —where the piano notes bridge technology and nature across the changing seasons, visitors are indulged in a deeply immersive experience. The exhibition runs from 25 February to 30 April 2026, at The Box, DX design hub.
Ms. Rainy Chan, Executive Director of Hong Kong Design Centre, remarked: ‘Piano in the Woods: Three Dialogues of the Four Seasons’ demonstrates the infinite possibilities of design and technology through cross-disciplinary integration. This exhibition not only creates an immersive artistic experience, but also responds to society’s longing for balance, tranquillity, and a deeper connection with nature. We hope visitors will feel the warmth of design and find inspiration in nature’s rhythms.’
Resonance of Immersive ArtTech, Nature and Music
The exhibition is structured around the concept of ‘Ecology, Geography and Humanity’, guiding visitors through three dialogues – Asking Ecology, Asking Geography, and Asking Humanity – across the four seasons. By pressing virtual piano keys, visitors receive responses from the forest in the form of real-time generated imagery and music. Scenes flow from early spring in New Zealand, to midsummer in Hong Kong, deep autumn in Austria, and serene winter in Yakushima. Pine needles layered on the ground evoke the forest’s texture and scent, creating a multi-sensory environment that engages sight, sound, touch and smell.
Merging Technology and Art to Create an Immersive Natural Atmosphere
The exhibition features piano compositions by Lewis Chung, paired with seasonal visuals and immersive soundscapes. Each keystroke prompts a unique response from the virtual forest—spring’s blossoming energy and shifting weather, summer’s transformation of urban sounds into nature’s echoes, autumn’s rebirth of plant forms and expressive calligraphy. Visitors may enter and exit freely, experiencing one or more dialogues, or pausing during rapid replay intervals. This interactive format ensures each visit is unique, while deepening emotional connections between humans and nature through technology.
Creator’s Message
Creator Henry Chu, who will also present his works at the Ora-Ora gallery in Art Basel Hong Kong this March, shared: ‘With “Piano in the Woods: Three Dialogues of the Four Seasons”, we hope to invite visitors to experience the cycle of time and the harmony of life through the interplay of technology and art, embodied in the dialogue between piano and forest. We want nature to respond to our innermost questions through evocative sounds and visuals.’
The exhibition is designed to resonate with a wide audience – from design enthusiasts seeking inspiration, to members of the public curious about art-tech, and city dwellers longing for respite. All are expected to find their own moments of tranquillity within this realm co-created by melodies and the forest.
Exhibition Details
Name: Piano in the Woods: Three Dialogues of the Four Seasons
Period: 25 February to 30 April 2026
Opening Hours: 11 am – 7 pm (Closed on Tuesdays, except Public Holidays)
Venue: The Box, 1/F, DX design hub, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
