The Hong Kong Visual Arts Society (HKVAS), originally set up by art and design students at the Extra-Mural Department of The University of Hong Kong, is this year celebrating its 35th anniversary. With a strong passion for the arts and a determination to promote creativity and exhibitions, the Society has organised many new kinds of art activities including art fairs, painting commentary sessions and artists-in-residence programmes, helping to promote local arts in Hong Kong. HKVAS has remained active throughout the years. Founder members from the 60s are still serving in the society, and membership has steadily increased through the 70s, 80s and 90s. Passing the torch from one generation to the next, the Society has constantly gathered momentum as it contributes to the development of the local arts scene.

Through its participation in the Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme IV to celebrate its 35th anniversary, the Society will demonstrate an innovative exhibition theme by grouping artworks into 3 eras of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and inviting artists active in other decades to take part in the exhibition, to create a wide-ranging retrospective of the local art scene. Members participating in the exhibition include Gaylord Chan, Chu Hing-wah, Ha Bik-chuen, Kum Chi-keung, Kwok Mang-ho, Danny Lee, Mok Yat-san, Tong Kong-sum, Tsang Fan-kowng and Bing Lee, etc. The exhibits range from Chinese and western painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics to installation art.