October Contemporary is an annual month-long platform inaugurated in 2007 to promote contemporary visual art and artists in Hong Kong. This October, eight of the city’s leading art spaces and institutions will jointly present a series of exhibitions, talks, workshops, screenings and performances under one umbrella theme, offering diverse perspectives within a clearly defined curatorial framework.

The theme “Attr/Action” has been chosen for October Contemporary 2008. Stemming from discussions about the nature of large-scale public events such as the Venice Biennale and the Olympics, the notion of “Attr/Action” alludes, among other things, to the phenomenon of cultural or tourist attractions, and the way in which these are used to market the images of cities and nations.

October Contemporary 2008 seeks to explore the allure of such attractions without losing sight of the social and political processes that inform their public reception. The apparently innocuous entertainment value of the attraction will be subjected to an active analysis, critique and re-invention, in some cases using the same potent and widespread appeal to engage with audiences on various issues.

October Contemporary 2008 participating organizations:

1a space
Artist Commune
Asia Art Archive
Hong Kong Museum of Art
Osage Art Foundation
Para/Site Art Space
Videotage
White Tube

第一屆拾月當代在2007正式舉行，是一個每年一度、為期一個月的藝術平台，旨在推廣香港當代視覺藝術，及讓公眾認識本地的藝術狀況。今年「拾」月，香港八個主要藝術空間和機構將舉辦一系列展覽、講座、工作坊、放映會和表演藝術，朝共同創作目標出發，在清晣明確的策展框架下衍繹新的視覺和多元的切入點。

拾月當代2008揀選「引。動」為題，回應如威尼斯雙年展和奥運等大型公開節目所伸延的討論。「引動」透視著一種文化和旅遊現象，說的是這種文化和旅遊現象如何被利用作城市或國家層面的推廣。

拾月當代2008探測文化和旅遊實存的吸引力，其中不忘檢視彰顯公欣認受性的「社會和政治過程」。驟眼看來娛樂價值甚高的「景點」，將接受深入分析、批判和再造。部份藝術空間 /機構會利用「景點」的效能和廣泛吸引力與觀欣就各議題展開對話。

拾月當代2008的參與機構：
1a 空間
藝術公社
亞洲藝術文獻庫
香港藝術館
奧沙藝術基金
Para/Site 藝術空間
錄影太奇
白管子

Date: 30 September 2008
Venue: 1a space, Artist Commune, Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Osage Art Foundation, Para/Site Art Space, Videotage, White Tube