香港.深圳城市/建築雙城雙年展有七百萬經費，竟然給參與藝術家$0資助去做作品參展，一點也不尊重藝術創作。梁志和以拒絕參與雙年展作為抗議。
一個展覽的靈魂在於藝術創作，但經費往往花在宣傳或行政人員酬金上，藝術家在資源貧乏的環境下創作，這樣子如何談得上培養藝術家？香港藝術如何能專業化？或許正如有藝術家較早前提過藝術家應成立工會去爭取應有的權益。
以下是梁志和的公開信和主辦單位的回應，轉貼自http://www.leungchiwo.net/ ：
Dear Organizer of HKSZ Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/ Architecture,
I have visited the Shenzhen section of the Biennale during the holiday, which was very interesting, consisting of works by architects, planners, artists, sociologists and writers. All their contributions are regarded as official participation in the biennale and included in the catalogue. I have also heard that our Hong Kong organizer provided a substantial fund in millions HK$ to the Shenzhen exhibition.
As an artist invited to take part in this Biennale Festival which is NOT the official Biennale Exhibition as stated, I was already reminded there will be zero budget and not even installation support whereas the OFFICIAL biennale participants received a production budget and are included in the catalogue (not the leaflet which is ONLY for the Festival artists).
As Hong Kong artists, we all know how difficult to make things happen here and have all sorts of experience to work in zero budget exhibition but we also know we're doing meaningful work but no cheap extras. Artists need to make many efforts to finish a work which is not meant to just fill up the ample exhibition space in the former Police Station compound and deserve a little respect.
This HKSZ biennale is generously supported by the Hong Kong government and the Jockey Club. All visitors to this biennale would think all participants including artists of this Biennale Festival got the same support. After all, what's the difference between Biennale Exhibition, Biennale Festival and/or Biennale Gallery? So it has to be clarified, not only the names but also the way how it's organized and curated. I think it is important to let everybody know whereas huge amount of money is spent on big cultural events and institutions, there is no corresponding support to small organizations and artists.
Although I would love to exhibit my work in such a big exhibition, I have to withdraw as an extra Biennale Festival participant because of my protest to the organizer's indifference to the artist and its unfair and unprofessional organization and expenditure.
Leung Chi Wo
Points of clarifications from the HKSZ Biennale organizer:
1. The 7 million budget funded by our 3 main sponsors supports the "Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture" core exhibition and program events in the field of architecture, planning and design disciplines. The budget is already very tight for supporting more than 60 local and international exhibitors, and the tremendous extent of basic improvement works to the whole venue for the event.
2. The parallel exhibitors of the main Biennale exhibition receive no financial support for their exhibitions.
3. With an aim to create a cross-disciplinary platform for the bienanle, a Biennale Festival which includes the Biennale Gallery is conceived with a much smaller budget totally independent from the main event.
4. The final sponsorship secured is only one-fifth of the proposed budget of the Festival with our own curatorial effort. Effectively it is running on an extremely tight budget with the same variety of programs from seminars, workshops, tours to art exhibitions.
5. Even though we were appointed to curate an exhibition event solely on architecture, planning and design fields, we really treasure and appreciate very much the contribution of the artist community in the coming Architecture Biennale. This is the sole reason why we try to provide a venue and a platform for the artists who could produce work at their own cost with their kind understanding of our very limited budget.
December 30, 2007 8:47 PM
My response to the organizer:
1. But what is the amount of fund provided to the Shenzhen exhibition?
2. Why make the difference between the "more than 60 local and international exhibitors" and the "parallel exhibitors" who are not given financial support? What are the criteria to allocate funding?
3. Doesn't it mean the Biennale Festival is less important that doesn't deserve same level of support from the organizer? Why not promote this "cross-disciplinary platform" among the "more than 60 local and international exhibitors"?
4. It's a matter of priority to spend the money. And then it's the organizers' responsibility to get extra funding for these other activities if you really want to make them happen. Shifting this responsibility to the artists or other participants is not acceptable.
5. As professional practitioners, we all know the limit of resources and often try to push the limit at the same time we make sure all parties involved are well respected. No one's passion in his/her work should be exploited for others' ambition. Of course better understanding each other can be achieved by thorough communication which (unfortunately didn't happen this time) however should not legitimize the unreasonable.
December 30, 2007 8:50 PM