MILL6FOUNDATIONPROUDLYLAUNCHESFALLPROGRAM

‘TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThread’Two-PartPlatformExploringWomenandTechnologyintheTextile&AnnouncingSecondMILL6Artist-in-ResidenceYukihiroTaguchi

HONG KONG – October 5, 2016 – MILL6 Foundation proudly presents ‘TECHSTYLE Series 1.0:Ariadne’sThread,’theinauguraleditionofitsannualseriesexploringtheimplicationsoftechnologyintextile.Concurrently, JapaneseartistYukihiroTaguchiwillcommencehisartist-in-residencyinHongKongforthreemonths.Comprisingoftwoevents,ourrichanddiverseFallprogrambuildsuponthecriticalmissionofMILL6Foundationtoexplorenewmeaning,experienceandinnovationintextilearts.TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThread‘TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThread’isatwo-partseriescomprisedofavideoartexhibitionandaninternationaldiscussionforum thatseekstoexchangeandgenerateknowledgetosupportthechanginglandscapeoftextiletoday.‘Ariadne’sThread’willsurveytheintersectionofwomenandtechnology,avitalcomponentoftheindustry’scontinuedevolution.Thetitle,‘Ariadne’sThread,’referstoGreekmythology,whereinAriadne,daughterofMinos,helpedTheseusescapefromtheconfinesofMinotaur’slabyrinthwithaballofthread.Theexhibitionfeatures9femaleartistsfromaroundtheworld,presentingvideoworksthatexplorewomen’sengagementintechnologyacrossmultipledisciplines.ArtistsDaraBirnbaum,CaoFei,TinaHavelockStevens,VvzelaKook,RachelMaclean,NatachaNisic,Sputniko!,MagdalenWong,andJiHyeYeomwillexplorethethusfarunder-researchedtopicviaaseriesofnewmediaworks.Fromajourneyintothedepthsofspace,toanaspiringgeneticengineerwhoseekstodetermineherownfate,toareenactmentofthetextileproductionlineupontheclosureofacottonmill,theselectedworksforma layered narrative that reveals the empowerment of women, and their intimate relationship withtechnology,andtheconnectionsformedthroughsharedhistoryandheritage.

‘TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThread’willalsopresentaninternationaldiscussionforum thatfocuses onwomen’s commitment to technology in textiles. The full-day conference will be co-presentedbyAsiaSocietyHongKongCenteronDecember3,2016,withakeynotespeechheadlinedbytheartistSputniko!.Thepanelwilladdress4criticalissues:1)Wherearewomen’svoicesintextileandtechnology?2)Women,textileandtechnologyinHongKongandChina3)Technologyandtextilewithresponsibility,and4)Towardanewhorizonintextileexhibition.Gatheringleadingvoices fromaround theworld, includingspeakers fromMuseumofFineArts (Boston),UniversityofEdinburgh, Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art, HKRITA (Hong Kong), The Hong Kong PolytechnicUniversity, Goldsmith College (London), Central SaintMartins (London) and others, a stellar cross-generational line-up of academics, textile experts, professionals, artists, curators and critics willcollectivelyconferaboutthefutureoftextile.“WhenIsawtheoldphotooffemaleworkersinNanFungtextilefactory,fromtheirlooksindignityandpride,Iimmediatelyrecognizedhowwomenhavecontributedtotextileproductionandinnovationforyears. Their significant role should be discussed. I’m convinced we can learn much through theirpracticeandhistory,”commentedMizukiTakahashi,SeniorCuratorofMILL6Foundation.Meanwhile, as part of MILL6’s commitment to learning and outreach, ‘TECHSTYLE Series 1.0:Ariadne’sThread’willcollaboratewithCulturalJournalismCampus,MILL6'sLearningProgramPartner,toprovideaspiringwritersandcriticswithauniqueopportunitytoexploretheuseofdigitalmediaasanewmediumtocommunicatewiththepublicaboutartsandculture.MILL6FoundationArtist-in-Residence:YukihiroTaguchiMILL6isdelightedtowelcomeYukihiroTaguchiasthesecondartist-in-residenceoftheprogramme.Bornin1980inOsaka,Japan,TaguchinowlivesandworksinBerlin.Knownforhisresearchonlocalcultures, Taguchi’s practice is rooted in interventions that interweave his physical body with thesurrounding landscape. The artist takes inspiration from unpredictable encounters with everydayobjectsandpeopleonthestreets,andthendocumentstheprocessthroughhisinstallations,events,andstop-motionvideoworks.TakinguphisresidencyinHongKongfromSeptember27toDecember21,2016,Taguchiwillresearchoncommonandtraditionalcustomsofthecity,focusingontheTsuenWandistrict.Simultaneously,Taguchiwillhostspontaneouseventsandworkshopstoengagewiththelocalpublic,intendedasimprovisationalstreetart.Taguchiwillalsodocument,viadigitalphotographyandvideo,thechangeofspace,peopleandatmosphereinhisresearch.

“Womenhavealwaysbeenthebulwarkofthetextiletrade,andastechnologycontinuouslychangestheface of this historic industry, their continued presence, contribution, and innovation helps developsocietybotheconomicallyandenvironmentally.Weareproudtointroducetheinaugural‘TECHSTYLESeries’ with a core that is emblematic of themission of our institution. Concurrently, the artist-in-residenceprogramfurthersourcommitmenttocommunityengagementinTsuenWan,layeringnewvoices and investigations into the preservation of local culture and heritage. Both of these excitingprogramsembodyourvisiontofosterindependentcreativepracticewithintextilearts,andtoreachouttolocalaudiences,”statesAngelikaLi,DirectorofMILL6Foundation.

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KEYINFORMATION:TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThreadOpeningReception:Friday,November18,20166:30-8:30pmOpeningRemarksbyAngelikaLi,Director,MILL6Foundation:7pmSharingbyCaoFeiandVvzelaKook:7:10-30pmPerformancebyTinaHavelockStevensa.k.aWhiteDrummer:7:30pmMediaPreview:2:30pmExhibition:November19–December6,2016Open:TuesdaytoSunday11:30am–7:30pm(ClosedonMondays)Venue:ExhibitionHall,6/F,SheungWanCivicCentre,HongKongwww.mill6.org.hkInternationalDiscussionForum:Saturday,December3,2016Time:Registration10:30am;Discussion11am–6pm(fullprograminAppendix1)Venue:AsiaSocietyHongKongCenter,9JusticeDrive,Admiralty,HongKong(co-presenter)RSVP:RSVP(Limitedmediaseatsavailable)ThediscussionforumwillbeconductedinEnglish.English-Cantonesesimultaneousinterpretationwillbeavailable.Freeadmission.Seatsarelimited.RegisterbyNovember25.GeneralEnquiries:MILL6Foundation|enquiry@mill6.org.hk|+85239792301MediaEnquiries:CdD.PRStephaniePoon|stephanie@cdd.com.hk|+85262097957CandySum|candy@cdd.com.hk|+85294197189*InterviewswithAngelika Li, Director,MILL6 Foundation;Mizuki Takahashi, Senior Curator,MILL6Foundation; selectedartists, speakersandartist-in-residenceYukihiroTaguchi canbearrangedbyrequest.NOTESTOEDITORS:AboutMILL6FoundationMILL6Foundationisanon-profitartsandculturalinstitutionandacharityinHongKong.Establishedin2015aspartofTheMillsheritageconservationproject,thespaceisexpectedtobecompletedin2018.Centeredontextileartsandculture,MILL6isestablishingapermanentcollectionwhilstsimultaneouslycuratingaseriesofpre-openingprogramsconsistingof:Exhibitions,CommunityEngagement,Learning,Heritage, Artists-in-Residence and Public Art. The non-profit institution aims to foster independentcreativepractice,aswellasexplorenewmeaningsandexperiencesregardingtextileartsand‘techstyle’innovationwith localcommunities.Wearecommitted topreserving theessenceof localcultureandheritage, conserving the valuable stories of the textile industry, and compel a continuous dialoguebetweenHongKongandinternationalcreators.Ourexhibitionsandactivitiesprovideawayforlocalcommunitiesto ‘lookout’ontotheoutsideworld,andforinternationalcreativesto ‘lookin’onHongKong.

APPENDIX1:MILL6FoundationFallProgramImageCaptions:TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThread:

VvzelaKook,Parallel,2012Courtesytheartist

TinaHavelockStevens,IDon’tWanttoSettheWorldonFire,2016Courtesytheartist

RachelMaclean,FeedMe,2015©RachelMaclean2015.CourtesytheartistandFilmandVideoUmbrellaArtist-in-Residence:

PortraitofYukihiroTaguchi,thesecondartist-in-residenceoftheprogram.CourtesytheartistandMILL6Foundation

APPENDIX2:TECHSTYLESeries1.0:Ariadne’sThreadDiscussionForumDetailsDate:Saturday,December3,2016Time:11am–6pm(Registrationbeginsat10:30am)OpeningRemarkbyAngelikaLi,Director,MILL6FoundationKeynoteSpeechbySputniko!,Artist; Assistant Professor, MIT Media LabPanelDiscussions:1.Wherearewomen’svoicesintextileandtechnology?Moderator/commentator:

• IngridChu,PublicProgrammesCurator,AsiaArtArchiveSpeakers:

• EdwinKeh,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel• JanisJefferies,Professor,Goldsmith,UniversityofLondon

2.Women,textileandtechnologyinHongKongandChinaModerator/commentator:

• EdithCheung,TextileCatalystSpeakers:

• FrancescaBray,Professor,TheUniversityofEdinburgh• WessieLing,ReaderinFashion,NorthumbriaUniversity

3.TechnologyandtextilewithresponsibilityModerator/commentator:

• MizukiTakahashi,SeniorCurator,MILL6FoundationSpeakers:

• AnneMarr,TextileDesigner;CourseLeader,BATextileDesignCentralSaintMartins,UniversityoftheArtsLondon;DeputyDirectoroftheTextileFutureResearchCentre

• ReikoSudo,Artist;DirectorofNuno4.TowardanewhorizonintextileexhibitionModerator/commentator:

• KinorJiang,AssociateProfessor,TheHongKongPolytechnicUniversitySpeakers:

• Pamela Parmal, Curator, David and Roberta Logie Department of Textile and Fashion Arts,MuseumofFineArts,Boston

• LiuXiao,Curator,2016HangzhouTriennialofFiberArt5.CrosstalkAllspeakersandmoderatorsareinvitedtothestagetoexchangecommentsandquestionsCo-presenter:AsiaSocietyHongKongCenterCateringSponsor:TastingsGroupClickhereforRSVP

APPENDIX3:PhotoHighlightsofMILL6Foundationin2016

【SpringExhibition-SocialFabric:NewWorkbyMarianaHahnandKwanSheungChi】GuestcuratedbyinternationallyrenownedcuratorDavidElliot,“SocialFabric”presentsaseriesofnewworksbythetwoyoungartists,MarianaHahnandKwanSheungChi,whointheirverydifferentwayshaverespondedtothehistory,cultureandcurrentsocialfabricofHongKong.ItisthecontinuationofMILL6Foundation’s acclaimed inaugural exhibition ‘Tracing some places’, furthering the commitment toacknowledgethecity’suniqueculture,heritageandhistory.(ImageCredit:CourtesyMILL6Foundation)

【Heritage Program –ArchivingTheMills through the lens】 This is an artist-initiated projectfeaturingsixlocalphotographers,anothermountainman,KittyChou,SouthHo,LawYukMui,SoHingKeungandTseMingChong,whocapturedthetransitionofTheMillsheritageconservationproject.Theprojectcommencedin2015,andseekstorevitalizetheformermillsinTsuenWan,anemblemoftextileproduction,oneofimportantsectorsonindustrialdevelopmentinHongKong’shistory,.Establishedin2015aspartofTheMillsheritageconservationproject,thespaceisexpectedtobecompletedin2018.(ImageCredit:CourtesyKittyChouandMILL6Foundation)

【CommunityEngagementandLearningProgram–MILL6WARMUP:MakeaPieceofClothingforYourself】MILL6continuestodevelopongoingresearchtoinvestigatethecity,withafocusontheTsuenWandistrict, and thepeople fromdifferent groups and generations that contribute to textileindustry.“TheUpcyclingBird”,locatedattheHauTeiSquareHawkerBazaar,isoneoftheexperimentalco-learningplatformsinitiatedbyMILL6incollaborationwithlocalorganizations.Theaimistofostercreativeupcyclingandinterestsintextileart.