The Hari Hong Kong Art Prize 2026 Brings Art Into Everyday Moments

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  Winner Man Mei To's 'Curly Breathing I' (2025) Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

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  Judges and Runners-Up. Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

At The Hari Hong Kong, art is not treated as an afterthought, but as part of their space, something guests come across naturally rather than something they have to seek out. Now in its third year, The Hari Art Prize continues to spotlight emerging talent in Hong Kong, with this year’s edition drawing close to 700 applicants. Guided by a panel that includes Dr. Aron Harilela, Charlie Smedley of A Space For Art, Amanda Hon of Ben Brown Fine Arts, Anqi Li of CHANEL, Frankie Ho of TASCHEN, and Wendy Xu of White Cube, the selection reflects a thoughtful balance of perspectives across the art world.

Taking this year’s top award is Man Mei To with Curly Breathing I (2025), an abstract sculpture that feels both structured and fluid. Created using African padauk wood, oil and stainless steel, the piece explores how the body exists in relation to the world around it, balancing fragility with a quiet sense of strength. Based between Hong Kong and London, Man’s wider practice centres on the intimacy of the body and its connection to everyday life. By reconstructing and reworking familiar elements, her work traces personal and collective experiences, touching on themes of movement, labour and transformation. There is a strong focus on the body as a form of expression, where gesture and material carry meaning beyond words. “Man’s vulnerable, organic forms comment on fragility and resilience amid forces beyond our control,” said Dr. Aron Harilela, CEO and chairman of Harilela Hotels Limited and founder of The Hari Hong Kong. “The work speaks to the perpetual flow of life, tracing cycles of transformation, survival and healing, while inviting viewers to reconnect with the unseen rhythms within the body.”

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  Runner-Up Katrina Leigh Mendoza Raimann. Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

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  Katrina Leigh Mendoza Raimann’s "Small Stepping" (2022) Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

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  Runner-Up, Ailsa Wong. Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

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  Ailsa Wong’s "Lightning" (2022) Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

The runners-up offer a distinct contrast in approach. Katrina Leigh Mendoza Raimann’s Small Stepping (2022), created using burlap, wool and cotton yarn, brings a softer, more tactile quality, inspired by natural forms and entirely made by hand. Her wider practice often explores material, memory and labour, reflecting on both the visible and hidden sides of making. Ailsa Wong’s Lightning (2022), an archival inkjet print on paper, moves in a more fluid direction, shifting between clarity and abstraction. Working across multiple mediums, her practice explores the connection between consciousness and emotion, with works that often feel suspended between the familiar and the unknown.

Judges, runners-up, and finalists. Image courtesy of The Hari Hong Kong.

Together, the works reflect a spectrum of approaches, from highly textural pieces to those that focus more on movement and atmosphere. What sets it all apart is how the artworks are presented. Rather than being limited to a single gallery space, a selection of the finalists' pieces will be displayed throughout the hotel until October, allowing guests to encounter them as a part of their stay. A subtle approach that also makes it an experience where art becomes everyday life.

For more on The Hari Hong Kong Art Prize, visit https://www.thehari.com/hong-kong/the-hari-art-prize/ to explore the thinking and process behind each of the winning works, as well as more information on the finalists.

The Hari Hong Kong

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