ReThink HK 2025 | Driving Purpose through Arts and Culture
As a Content Partner for ReThink HK 2025, SVIHK curated a session on “Purposeful Creativity” that brought a fresh, innovative angle to the event by exploring how arts, culture, and heritage serve as powerful yet often untapped drivers of sustainability. Moving beyond typical sustainability discussions focused on technology or policy, this session highlighted the unique ways creative expression connects people emotionally to environmental and social issues, inspiring collective action.
The dynamic panel. moderated by Tim Wong from Resolve Foundation, featured diverse voices from cultural advocates, corporate champions, and artists who shared their inspiring insights on how creativity connects people to sustainability in meaningful ways. Louis Yu of the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre reflected on the multifaceted role art plays in sustainability: “Culture has always been the best means to convey messages, provoke creativity, and change people’s minds.” He highlighted that arts engage audiences both as advocacy and practice, while preserving cultural heritage fosters sustainable communities.
May Yeung, founder of Art of MY Family, with Louis Yu, Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre
Emotion Drives Lasting Impact
Artist May Yeung, founder of Art of MY Family, shared her personal journey of integrating sustainability in art: “Art is a vital catalyst for social change, fostering connections between communities and nature.” She spoke movingly of her marine conservation projects where children created artworks inspired by fishing communities, unlocking an emotional bond that led to deeper understanding and behavioral shifts.
Creative Spaces Connect People with Nature
Kevin Ng from Henderson Land Group illustrated how thoughtful art installations bring sustainability to everyday life. For instance, the 10-meter orange frog sculpture, “Play Upside Down” from the Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, author of the iconic Rubber Duck, in a residential area, has been designed to inspire residents to reconnect with nature and find balance: “Art serves as a connector between people and nature, especially in urban settings, encouraging sustainable lifestyles.”
Kevin Ng from Henderson Land Group and Catherine Sing from HK Electric
Public Art and Community Engagement
May Lam-Kobayashi from Swire Properties shared how their placemaking strategy brings art beyond museum walls, weaving it into the fabric of urban life. “Our goal is to open dialogue, bring vibrancy, and enhance community identity through site-specific public artworks.” When the real estate developer unveiled Taikoo Square green oasis, home to over 260 native and exotic plant species, they partnered with a local indie hip-hop artist to create a Cantonese song celebrating biodiversity. The creation engaged thousands online, highlighting how art and nature combine to nurture a sustainable city culture.
Experiential Learning for Sustainability
Catherine Sing from HK Electric shared impactful insights from their 20-year partnership with the Conservancy Association. Their eco-heritage tours go beyond sightseeing by cultivating respect for nature and inspiring actionable behaviors. “From over 5,500 surveys, 65% committed to tangible green actions,” she said, illustrating how knowledge turns into lasting commitment.
May Lam-Kobayashi, Swire Properties
Measuring Impact with Purpose
Panelists also discussed the nuanced challenge of measuring arts’ impact on sustainability. May Lam detailed their use of qualitative KPIs in youth empowerment programs, while May Yeung emphasized the emotional resonance art creates, sharing poignant stories of cancer survivors finding hope and community through creative expression.
Purposeful Creativity at ReThink 2025 offered a compelling reminder that sustainability is not just a scientific or policy challenge but a deeply human endeavor. Through art, culture, and emotionally rich experiences, collective awareness and action can be sparked, shaping a more sustainable society for generations to come.
