Two Hong Kong artists due to exhibit at the 51st Venice Biennale this June gave a briefing on the ideas behind their artworks in the special administrative region on Thursday.

Presented by the local Arts Development Council (ADC), the theme of the exhibition will be "an investigation of a journey to the West by micro+polo" with works presented by two local artists, Anothermountainman (micro) and Chan Yuk-keung (polo).

The piece by Anothermountainman -- the alias of Stanley Wong -- is a Hong Kong-style teahouse with its walls covered in red, white and blue plastic fabric and Chinese window frames. It is a statement on the importance of face-to-face communication in society. 

The work of Chan Yuk-keung is in the muted tones of natural wood. His cityscape installation, in the shape of Venice, reveals his experiences as a traveler. The piece is elevated and inverted to allow the viewer a thorough investigation into an imaginary, re-invented world.

There will be an opening ceremony for the exhibition in Venice on June 10 with the participation of ADC Vice Chairman Peter K.K Wong, dancer Mui Cheuk-yin and violinist Kung Chi-shing.

The Venice Biennale, a world-renowned visual arts exhibition, was first held in 1895.

This is the third time Hong Kong visual artists will exhibit works at the event since 1997. This year, the Hong Kong exhibition will be on show from June 12 to November 6 in Venice.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2005)