Above Second

Above Second, directed by May Wong, opened in Hong Kong in 2010.  Above Second is a gallery space existing as a catalyst for the expanding new contemporary art movement exploding forth from streets, art schools, and design studios around the world. Located in Sai Ying Pun, on Hong Kong Island in the Western District, we exhibit a genre of work influenced by illustration, graphic design, graffiti, comic books, pop culture, and street art.

We are aware of the growing interest for diversity and options the Hong Kong community craves in contemporary art. Promoting and nurturing the understanding of an alternative subculture, we have a network of local emerging young talent and established international artists whose work is rarely exhibited in Asia.

Above Second’s aim is to challenge and captivate the audience with notions of unconventionality and quality. Our Artist Residency program is designed to provide a space for visiting artists, without any limitations, as a setting to be progressive and innovate. They are encouraged to bring their raw creative energy (usually found on the streets) indoors, transforming our white walls into ingenious installations and departures from reality.

We are proud to have collaborated with local artists as well as others from Denmark, Italy, Australia, USA, UK, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Brasil, Canada, and China. We have worked with Thinkspace Gallery of Los Angeles and Coates & Scarry of Bristol to bring big name artists’ such as D*Face, Audrey Kawasaki, Dabs Myla, and Nick Walker to Hong Kong. Committed to bringing established and emerging artists to the Hong Kong market, we have created a forum for launching their careers in Asia. We are dedicated to expanding the new contemporary art movement in Hong Kong from the streets up.

Synonymous with this mission, Above Second works with outside international curators and local businesses to build a presence of street art murals in Hong Kong. In the summer of 2013, Above Second worked with Swire Properties to bring 9 international artists to the exhibition “Work in Progress” at Somerset House in Taikoo Place. Named by Complex Magazine as the “street art Olympics,” this exhibition was one of the first site-specific street art exhibitions of its size in Asia. Over 1400 people attended the opening event, and it was open with free admission to the public for three weeks along with an array of public workshops, lectures, and film screenings at the space.  Above Second is continuing to pursue these off-site projects to change the notion of street art in Hong Kong from vandalism to a viable means of artistic expression.