It's 1996 in Hong Kong. You're a photographer and artist who cuts your teeth in London and returns to your home city to make your big comeback. Many people are returning to Hong Kong at this time. You're going out every night to hit the gay clubs with your friends. Your name is Kary Kwok. One night at the club Works, you are introduced to a fashionable artist working in design and conceptual art, around the same age as you. He dresses impeccably, in chic brands; he also pens sharp exhibition reviews for the South China Morning Post. His name is Hiram To, and sparks fly immediately. You have the same taste in music, film, and art. You both live in Causeway Bay. A whirlwind friendship ensues. This is your story. By 2001, Kylie Minogue is blasting every speaker in the city, "Can't Get You Out of My Head...." Kary and Hiram have been teaching together, working together, showing art together, and of course, dancing together. In 2017, Hiram leaves this world all too soon at the age of fifty-two. This display can be read as a love letter: From Kary to Hiram.
Special Thanks: Elaine Lin (Asia Art Archive), Phoebe Chuk, Diana Lin, Pia Ho, Franko B, and Tai Kwun.
Images courtesy of: Queer Reads Library
QUEER READS LIBRARY_CORNER
A display with thirty new book titles inspired by Myth Makers, including special selections by Queer Reads Library (Kaitlin Chan, Rachel Lau, Beatrix Pang). The title refers to the "corner" where most of Kary Kwok's self-portrait photos were shot at his 1990s studio flat in London. Conceptually, "corner" also represents subversion, infinity, empowerment, and resistance to power and control.
Featuring publications by: 6699 Press, Acudus Aranyian, Against Nature Journal, Aki Hassan, Ashley Franklin, Becca Tobin, Bruno Zhu, Datura Magazine (editors: Sunmi Flowers + Mar Julia), Dream Babes 2.0 (curator: Sin Wai Kin), El Sub, Gorgeous Glam Gays, Singapore, Hiram To, Ho Tam, Holok Chen + Small Tune Press, Kary Kwok, Loneliness books, Manbo Key, Mimi Wong, Mixed Rice Zines, ourself zine, Oscar Chik, Pseudonym Jones, Pui Yin Cheung, Ren Hang, Sarula Bao, Shiloh, TransFighters, Oakland, Xiyadie, Yau Ching, Zairong Xiang
Curators: Queer Reads Library (Kaitlin Chan, Rachel Lau, Beatrix Pang)
Images courtesy of: Queer Reads Library
QRL_Corner Programmes
Session I: Sun, 19 Feb, 3-4:30pm | Photography as Life's Archive

This QRL_Corner event, hosted by Kaitlin Chan (Queer Reads Library) and Kary Kwok, will discuss photography as a form of archiving life, with a particular focus on queer storytellers. Drawing from photography publications inspired by Myth Makers and including works by Oscar Chik, Acúdus Aranyian, Ho Tam, Mimi Wong, and Kary Kwok, this casual session will provide a forum for visitors to discuss both the creating of photos and the appreciation of them as a way of seeing ourselves and each other.
The programme starts with a brief tour of Can't Get You Out of My Head: from Kary, to Hiram, a concurrent display in the Artists' Book Library featuring artists Kary Kwok and Hiram To (1964-2017) who often worked with photography to express their ideas and tell stories.
Session II: Sun, 12 Mar, 3-4:30pm | Queer Poetry Forum

Bring a poem, let's talk about poetry! The QRL_Corner features volumes of poetry by Yau Ching and Ren Hang alongside other publications inspired by Myth Makers on display in the Artists' Book Library. In this session, Queer Reads Library member and host Kaitlin Chan will discuss these books, as well as the anthology 100 Queer Poems, in an open forum where readers are invited to bring and share a poem that is meaningful to them.
Each session is limited to 15 participants and will be led in English but participants are welcome to share in both Cantonese and English.
If you wish to join the programme, please complete this form. You will be confirmed or placed on the waitlist.
Images: courtesy of Queer Reads Library.