Design Concept

The University of Hong Kong Libraries are honoured to accept a generous donation from Professor Norman Ko Wah Man, an HKU Honorary Fellow and a distinguished alumnus of HKU Faculty of Engineering (1963), to establish the Ko Wong Wai Ching Wendy Fine Arts Digital Library on the 3rd floor of the Main Library (Old Wing).

Professor Ko has dedicated the Fine Arts Digital Library to his late wife, Mrs. Ko Wong Wai Ching Wendy, a distinguished schoolteacher and a passionate supporter of arts.

The Library is presently defined into various zones offering unique experiences: 

Features

• Entrance: Upon entering, guests are greeted by an ambiance of tranquility and contemplation, inviting them to leave the outside world behind, such as embracing the serenity of the sea.

• Holographic Display: A tribute to Mrs. Wendy Ko on her passion for ballet with a holographic display showcases her performance.

• Meditation Room: A serene sanctuary for contemplation and mindfulness, providing students with a peaceful retreat to seek solace and rejuvenation amidst the hustle of their lives.

• Immersive Experience: In the Depth of Seven Seas
  • Beginning in the 1960s, Professor Norman Ko Wah Man and his wife, Mrs Ko Wong Wai Ching Wendy embarked on explorations into the depths of various seas. Their journey began in the warm waters of Hong Kong, leading to diving into the chilly depths of the United Kingdom, as well as the waters of Pratas, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Guam, Palau, Hawaii, the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, Seychelles, and the Caribbean Sea. Equipped with a 120mm film camera housed in a unique underwater casing that they had specially designed, they captured vibrant snapshots of the marine life they encountered.
  • The photographic documentation of Professor Ko's aquatic explorations has been digitized and integrated into immersive projections installed within this Fine Arts Digital Library. This fusion of technology and photography guides visitors on an experiential journey through the depths of the sea, transporting them beneath the waves through the vivid imagery captured by Professor Ko’s custom-built underwater camera.

Within the space is a dedicated area to host art exhibitions that will house blended collections of fine arts, paintings, sculpture, poetry and materials related to the arts. Works will be displayed on walls, columns, and ceilings with specific themes, with a flexible hanging system to allow for the rotation of an array of fine arts, thus adding dynamism and freshness to the space.

As suggested by Professor Ko, students will also be able to utilise mobile phones and other portable devices to display their results on a large monitor, which provides them with a high-resolution image for delicate searches.

Our objective is to provide visitors with an immersive arts experience, fostering a platform for students to pursue their passions and expand their knowledge.