At Hong Kong's Art Basel, artist Chow Chun-fai's latest works transport viewers back to a defining moment in the city's history-the 1997 handover from British to Chinese rule. His paintings, displayed at the same venue where the transition took place, revisit a time when Hong Kongers took pride in their city's vibrancy and openness.

That era has since taken a drastic turn. China's imposition of a national security law in 2020 has effectively silenced dissent, prompting many young professionals and artists to emigrate. However, Chow has remained in Hong Kong, continuing to document his home despite political uncertainty.

Art as a Chronicle of Change

Chow, widely recognized for his thought-provoking recreations of classic movie scenes with bilingual subtitles, presents a new collection that reflects on key moments in Hong Kong's recent history. His paintings at Art Basel revisit major events, including the 1997 handover, trips by top Chinese leaders, and China's selection as the host of the 2008 Olympic Games.

"While studying art, we've learned about artists who lived through momentous times. Since we are experiencing such a period ourselves, I will continue to learn from it," Chow said in an interview.

His works also highlight the career of Sharon Cheung, a former journalist and now gallery director, who covered some of Hong Kong's most defining political events. One of Chow's paintings captures a famous 2000 exchange where former Chinese President Jiang Zemin scolded Cheung for asking "too simple, sometimes naive" questions about Hong Kong's leadership.

Another series, titled Panda, depicts Jiang's lighter side. It revisits his humorous response to a 2002 U.S. press conference question about pandas, where he replied in English, "I'm sorry, I am an electrical power engineer." Chow said he included this piece because of Hong Kong's recent fascination with pandas, sparked by twin cubs born last year.

Art Amid Political Constraints

Over the past two decades, Chinese leaders have become less open with Hong Kong journalists. In 2023, Beijing even canceled the premier's annual press conference-one of the few opportunities for media interaction with top officials.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has seen intensified political control, particularly after the 2019 anti-government protests. Pro-democracy activists have been jailed, independent media outlets shut down, and cultural institutions subjected to tighter scrutiny. In 2021, authorities amended the city's film censorship laws on national security grounds, leading some filmmakers to stop screening their work locally. Bookstores and libraries have also begun practicing self-censorship.

Despite these challenges, Cheung and Chow remain committed to their work. "People are more cautious about expressing their thoughts, but fear won't stop us," said Cheung, director of SC Gallery. "Art creates space for interpretation-we're not telling people what to think, but rather allowing them to reflect."

Chow, who has never considered leaving Hong Kong, believes that artists witnessing historical transformations have a responsibility to document them.

"Finding ourselves in this moment of change, how could I, as a creative professional, not be here to witness it personally?" he said.