Japanese robot band feature at Hong Kong's new media festival

The annual international Microwave festival kicked off in China’s capital Hong Kong on Friday.

Under the theme “Be Water II”, this years international new media arts festival is revolving around technology, city and life.

A major highlight of the fete is a robot band from Japan.

“First phase, I want to make a guitar robot. Play(ing) guitar robot. Guitar is so much a physical instrument. So this is difficult. I am an engineer. So I wanted to make a difficult instrument,” said Artist Kimora.

Microwave Festival began in 1996. The fete embraces the wider range of new media art.

It is the first and only art festival in Hong Kong dedicated to new media art and showcasers brings cutting-edge works.

From exhibitions to film screenings and even outreach educational events, this year’s festival offers a variety.

The festival which will run for 12 days has already registered a number of exhibitors

“I focus on devise and maker culture. Which originates from DIY culture. But then the technology changed and we got, you know, 3D printer and laser cutters at home instead of in the factory, so it’s a new kind of industrial revolution. So everyone can be a maker. So when we are looking into the good fortunes, everybody can be a maker and make good things based on the technology we have nowadays,” said Joel Kwong, the programme manager of the festival.

Robot band kicks off Hong Kong new media festival on cjn news: https://t.co/rpcjndEHnS via YouTube

— UlungEntertainment (ulung22) June 5, 2016

This year’s festival has also drawn people from all walks of life. From the US to Japan with pioneering media artworks.

As the festival continues to grow, cutting edge works provoke thought in the technological hub every year.