“The Gibbon’s Life in the Treetops” Exhibition | Hong Kong

onebite was honoured to be the guest curator and exhibition designer for "The Gibbon's Life in the Treetops" exhibition organised by Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG). It was held on Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai from 14 to 24 October 2021.

The exhibition was held to celebrate the International Gibbon Day on 24th October and to raise awareness for these endangered apes of Asia’s tropical rainforests. Since 2003, KFBG has been working tirelessly to pull gibbons back from the brink of extinction. In 2006, we re-discovered the Cao Vit Gibbon – thought to be extinct in China for almost half a century – along the Sino-Vietnamese border in Guangxi and facilitated the establishment of a national nature reserve. KFBG’s 18 years of tireless efforts have also seen the global population of Hainan Gibbon – the world’s rarest primate – increase from 13 in 2003 to 35 at present (out of less than 150 in China’s wilderness), and also improved the protection and scientific research of the largest population of Gaoligong Gibbon in China, which is one of the world’s most endangered primates.

Bringing the rainforest to the heart of the city.

“The Gibbon’s Life in the Treetops” exhibition sought to bring a reinvented research basecamp and rainforest into the heart of the city by transforming Lee Tung Avenue, a popular shopping mall, into a tropical rainforest research site. onebite hoped the public could leave the exhibition with a greater awareness of gibbons and the risks they faced in the fast shrinking tropical rainforests. This is especially so as we could not live without forests. Most of our commodities contain ingredients produced in a forest, or from forest destruction. Therefore, by supporting forest-friendly products, we can also help save natural forests in other parts of the world.

Through the exhibition, visitors could learn everything about gibbons from their operatic song, their special behaviours, their unique family structure to their different life stages. They can also learn about the troubles faced by two endangered gibbon species and how KFBG is helping to turn the tide; and find out how urbanites can contribute to gibbon and forest conservation.

Hence, our exhibition design sought to recreate the habitats of gibbons in an interactive and informative manner. Visitors were guided through the reinvented tropical forest research station, learnt about the life of the gibbons, listened to the different calls of the gibbons, joined one of the art workshops, grasped the threats faced by the gibbons and were encouraged to make a pledge for supporting forest-friendly products. If there is one exhibit that stood out in the exhibition, it was definitely the 3m tall gibbon sculpture made of bamboo, which took local artists over a month to create using traditional techniques.

At the foot of the sculpture, we designed decal stickers on the floor which gave interesting information tidbits about gibbons which answered common questions visitors might have about gibbons. For example, are gibbons a type of monkey; how many species of gibbons are there; and how long are the gibbons' distinctive arms? The stickers on the floor not only lead you to the answers, but also to the exhibition space.