The Project
The Project
In the early stages of this module, I struggled to grasp its objectives and establish a clear direction for the assignment. The conceptual frameworks of sound, image, and space felt abstract, and I was uncertain how to translate them into a tangible creative output.
The breakthrough came unexpectedly during an evening at a whiskey bar with colleagues. Observing the ritual of whiskey drinking—the deliberate pour, the gentle swirl, the contemplative nosing—I recognised that this was itself a performance, layered with tradition and sensory engagement.
In that moment, the project found its purpose. I decided to dive deep into the art of whiskey, tracing its journey from grain to sipping. What began as uncertainty evolved into a commitment to translate this observed ritual into an immersive media installation, transforming whiskey culture into a narrative of light, image, and space.
Upon finalizing the subject of my project, I approached the owner of a local whiskey bar to discuss the possibility of staging my installation as a site-specific show. The response was positive, and the prospect of presenting The Art of Whiskey within an authentic whiskey environment—surrounded by bottles, barrels, and the very rituals I sought to explore—felt conceptually compelling.
However, as discussions progressed, a tension emerged. The bar owner, as a sponsor of the venue, understandably wished to contribute his own ideas and commercial considerations to the work. While his enthusiasm was appreciated, I recognized that accommodating external creative input risked compromising the artistic and academic integrity of the assignment. This project is, first and foremost, a submission for my degree—a piece of assessed work requiring clear authorship and alignment with the module's learning outcomes.
After careful consideration, I made the decision to revert to a more neutral venue: a common hall provided by HKU SPACE, where my fellow coursemates would also be exhibiting their work. This setting offered several advantages:
Academic autonomy: I retained full creative control over the installation
Consistent context: The venue aligned with the module's exhibition framework
Peer engagement: Presenting alongside classmates allowed for constructive feedback and shared learning
While the whiskey bar offered atmospheric authenticity, the academic context ultimately provided the appropriate conditions for focused creative development and assessment.
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