Living Syntax: A Non-Solo of Liv Tsim – curated by Jamsen Law

Liv Tsim’s Living Syntax explores how materials shape ecosystems beyond the human era. Joining this Non-Solo are three Guests from HK: Lee, Monti, and Carrie.

In Living Syntax, Liv Tsim explores the materials of our environment as active participants in the evolution of ecosystems. Looking beyond the human era, she examines how minerals, biological entities and artificial substances interact – merging, transforming and shaping the world in ways we rarely notice. By exploring their physical relationships, cultural meanings and chemical processes, she uncovers the hidden structures within materials, offering new insights into our ecosystems.

Human language cannot communicate with all species, but materials speak through their changes. Many life forms and natural elements exist quietly, evolving without recognition – each deserving care, attention and deeper discussion. Through experimentation, data analysis and shifts in perspective, Liv brings these overlooked materials into focus, giving them a new significance in today’s environmental narratives.

She is joined by three guest artists from Hong Kong, each offering a unique perspective on materiality and transformation:

• Lee Suet Ying (Bio-plastic Sculpture) – Crafting sculptures from organic and edible materials, Lee’s ever-changing works embody the fragility, decay and renewal of life.
• Monti Lai (Soil-driven Art Installation) – Blending agriculture and art, Monti traces the journey of Choy Sum across cultures, celebrating soil, growth and the deep connection between land and identity.
• Carrie Shen (Text Installation & Performance Art) – Through poetic text and performance, Carrie captures the voices of her community, weaving delicate yet profound narratives.

Together, these artists reimagine how we engage with the materials that shape our world – inviting us to listen, reflect and rediscover the silent stories of the earth.

Liv Tsim is an interdisciplinary artist, bio-material designer, and researcher based in Hong Kong and London. She is currently a Visiting Researcher at the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, a collaborative research initiative between Newcastle University and Northumbria University. She graduated with Distinction from the MA Biodesign program at Central Saint Martins in 2023 and BA Visual Arts at Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University. Tsim’s research and practice explore bio-materiality, ecological justice, technology and speculative futures through mixed-media installations and video. The intricate climate crisis necessitates targeted and comprehensive speculation. She actively collaborates with scientists and communities to foster interdisciplinary dialogue,accumulate specific observations, advocate for speculative visions, and create an inclusive culture. Tsim was awarded the CreateSmart Young Design Talent Special Award from the HKYDTA in 2023, granted the MediaArt Scholarship from the Department of Cultural Affairs in Salzburg, and nominated for the Green Trail Awards LVMH Maison/0 CSM in 2023. Her artwork has been exhibited internationally, including the “Post-Human Narratives” series (Cattle Depot Artist Village and Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Hong Kong, 2020-2022), “Living with the Living” (Hypha Studio, London, 2024), “#CreateCOP Exhibition” (Fotografiska Shanghai Center, China, 2024), The Art Central (Hong Kong, 2024), and “Tokens of Remembrance” (Galleria Myymälä2, Helsinki, 2024).

Monti Lai is a Hong Kong-based environmental artist and farmer whose practice fuses art, ecology and agriculture. With an MFA in Environmental Art from Aalto University, she explores land, community and creative intervention through site-specific installations and participatory projects. From 2014 to 2019, she was deeply involved in the Sustainable Lai Chi Wo Programme, transforming everyday farming into artistic expression. She co-organised Touching the Earth, a workshop promoting tactile connections with the land. Her project Rice in the City (2017-2018) brought rice farming to urban Hong Kong, playfully subverting public spaces while sparking dialogue about land use and food systems. Lai has participated in rural art initiatives, including the Fishpond Sustainable Art Festival (2018) and Arts in the City (2024). She founded the Farmside Art Research Lab, redefining environmental art as an active dialogue between people and their surroundings.

Lee Suet Ying is a Hong Kong-based visual artist whose practice is rooted in sculpture and expanded into interdisciplinary installations. Holding a Master of Visual Arts from Hong Kong Baptist University and a BA (Fine Art) with Distinction from RMIT University, her work explores themes of memory, materiality, and spatial narratives. She has exhibited internationally, with solo presentations such as Dreaming About Ham Sandwich After The End of The World (2023) and participation in global projects, including Marks of Remembrance (UK) and Tokens of Remembrance (Finland). Her contributions to collaborative and site-specific works highlight her sensitivity to historical and social contexts. Alongside her artistic practice, she is an educator, lecturing at Hong Kong Art School and Hong Kong Design Institute. Lee’s works are held in private and institutional collections in Spain, Portugal, and Argentina.

Carrie Shen is a Hong Kong-born artist, writer, and director based in Bristol. With a background in psychology and journalism from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, she initially pursued a Master’s in Expressive Arts Therapy before fully dedicating herself to the arts. Her performance and video works have been showcased at Tate Modern and exhibited in galleries and cultural spaces across the UK, and Hong Kong. Her literary works have appeared in Fleurs des Lettres, Bit Zi, and Resonate. Since 2022, she has expanded into filmmaking, crafting narrative and documentary shorts. Her debut documentary Short Story Long was selected for the UK Hong Kong Film Festival 2023, while her narrative short White White screened at the 2024 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. She continues to explore themes of identity, memory, and displacement through multidisciplinary storytelling, with her works presented internationally in exhibitions and film festivals.