Opening of Dreams: A Global Tapestry Hong Kong

Elena Givone's "Global Tapestry" project in Hong Kong. What could be more wonderful and magical than a dream? Elena Givone, an Italian visual artist and a true global citizen, has been asking herself this question since childhood. For her, dreams are a force that is "free, boundless, and infinite." Elena does not keep her dreams only to herself; she travels the world with a camera and a magic lamp, collecting the dreams of people everywhere. The Italian Cultural Institute of Hong Kong is proud to present Elena Givone's "Global Tapestry" project in Hong Kong, curated by Vincent Deng (VA Gallery), creating a new chapter of the project that has been carried in other cities. When Elena arrives in Hong Kong with her flying carpet and red hat, she is not searching for landmarks—she is searching for people. She will invite people she encounters in Hong Kong— regardless of age, nationality, or status— to share a simple dream, wish or vision for the future. The Hong Kong chapter marks the moment when this tapestry truly expands onto the global stage. As long as there is at least one person dreaming, this city will never lose its light. About Elena Givone Elena Givone, born in 1979, is an Italian photographer, visual artist and dreamer. Her work consists of a growing collection of art which has taken shape over the last decade in Italy, Bosnia, Brazil, France, Mali, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Myammar and Greece. Elena completed her first degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs in Torino, her hometown, and obtained an honors degree in Photography from the European Institute of Design (Istituto Europeo di Design) before continuing her studies at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Among the salient traits of this artist, who is represented by Agenzia Contrato, are those of contemplating on dreams and reflecting on the relationship between the surrounding world and our inner world, while investigating the power of imagination that resides within each one of us. Elena’s work has a strong ethical and political component, offering a place where the voice of people who have been silenced can be heard. It makes no difference whether it is a prison in Brazil, an orphanage, a street, or a tent because carpets, lamps, and owls become instruments to help understand the society in which the subjects portrayed live, in order to overturn normality and give them the gift of carefreeness, if only just for a few moments.