2023-24 Freshwater Human Rights Accelerator was launched in September 2023 and concluded with the NGO Pitch Forum in May 2024 where cash awards of $7000 and $3000 were handed out to the first and second prize winners: Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK) and the Taiwan Equality Campaign. In our Freshwater Fellows Interview Series, we introduced the five NGOs that participated in the Pitch Forum. Nearly nine months later, in January 2025, we had a chance to catch up with LLHK’s Alric Lee who was organizing the HK Liberty Art Prize 2024 exhibition in Tokyo. We spoke with him about the changes the organization has undergone since the NGO Pitch Forum and its plans for the future.
1. You won the first prize of the pitch forum. Was the award money helpful in developing your business model? If so, could you tell us more about how it has helped, and what challenges you still face?
Winning the first prize at the pitch forum was a transformative moment for Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK). The award money enabled us to fund the preparation of the second Liberty Art Prize and its exhibition in Tokyo, providing a platform for Hong Kong artists to share their voices with a broader audience. Organizing the exhibition involved logistical challenges, from selecting a venue to coordinating the safe transportation of artworks from all over the world, particularly those from Hong Kong. Without the financial support, executing such a significant event would have been much harder.
Despite this achievement, one of our primary challenges remains sustaining attention to our cause. While there is strong interest during events like exhibitions, maintaining ongoing engagement and expanding our audience beyond those already familiar with the Hong Kong democracy movement requires continuous effort. We are also working on finding innovative ways to connect with audiences who may not yet fully understand the importance of our mission. Broadening awareness and ensuring long-term support are priorities as we move forward.
The interior of HK Liberty Art Prize 2024 exhibition
2. You just finished the HK Liberty Art Prize 2024 exhibition in Tokyo. Could you introduce this exhibition to our readers? Is it different from the one in Taiwan last year？ Are there any new additions to the exhibition?
The Tokyo exhibition of the second Liberty Art Prize, titled “Hong Kong Symbol,” was held in the vibrant cultural hub of Ebisu. This exhibition featured over 40 works submitted by Hong Kong artists from across the globe, including several brave contributions from artists who remain in Hong Kong under challenging circumstances. The artworks were deeply evocative, capturing a range of emotions from hope and defiance to nostalgia and loss. For the Japanese audience, it offered a rare and meaningful glimpse into the lives and perspectives of the Hong Kong diaspora community, fostering greater empathy and understanding.
Compared to the Taipei exhibition in 2023, we noticed a distinct evolution in the submissions. Many of the works took on a more personal tone, reflecting intimate struggles and emotional journeys. This shift inspired us to approach the Tokyo exhibition differently, focusing on creating a more personal and immersive experience for visitors. We curated the artworks in a way that emphasized storytelling, using supplementary materials such as artist statements and interactive displays to help audiences connect more deeply with the artists’ experiences. These changes made the Tokyo exhibition uniquely impactful and resonant.
The interactive artworks of HK Liberty Art Prize 2024 exhibition
3. You mentioned that the web shop Democracy Shop (民主商店) has just opened online. Could you tell us a bit more about this?
The Democracy Shop is more than just an online store; it is a platform to promote the values of freedom, democracy, and creativity through meaningful products. Among our offerings is the Lion Rock Starry Night maki-e lacquerware, a beautifully crafted piece that symbolizes the resilience and spirit of Hong Kong under the starlit sky. We also offer a series of original posters designed by our in-house artist created to promote our events. These posters have been highly sought after for their striking visuals and powerful messaging, making them a perfect way for supporters to carry a piece of our mission with them.
The shop serves two purposes: it allows us to raise much-needed funds for our initiatives, and it provides a way for supporters to engage with our work on a personal level. Every purchase supports our exhibitions, advocacy campaigns, and creative projects, ensuring that our message reaches more people worldwide. By blending artistry and activism, the Democracy Shop is helping to keep the spirit of democracy alive, one meaningful product at a time.
Japanese Kishu-made gold leaf glass maki-e lacquerware sold at the Democracy Shop
4. Could you tell us LLHK’s goal for 2025 and plans for the future?
Looking ahead to 2025, LLHK has ambitious plans to further its mission of promoting democracy and freedom. One of our primary goals is to expand the Liberty Art Prize to new locations, including London and New York. These global cities are ideal venues for reaching diverse audiences and amplifying the voices of Hong Kong artists. By showcasing their work internationally, we hope to foster solidarity and remind the world of the ongoing fight for democracy in Hong Kong.
In addition to expanding the Liberty Art Prize, we aim to grow our educational and advocacy programs. These programs will focus on raising awareness about Hong Kong’s struggles, as well as highlighting the global implications of authoritarianism. We believe that education is a powerful tool for inspiring action, and we are committed to creating resources, events, and discussions that empower people to stand up for democratic values.
Another key initiative is the launch of new creative projects that build on the success of the Liberty Art Prize. These projects will provide platforms for artists and activists to collaborate, innovate, and express their visions for a freer future. Ultimately, our vision for 2025 and beyond is to continue building bridges between Hongkongers and the international community, ensuring that the fight for democracy remains a priority on the global stage.
再訪NGO 提案論壇一等獎得主：香港民主女神李伊東
思流學院人權加速器計劃於 2023 年 9 月啟動，於 2024年 5 月的 NGO Pitch Forum 告終，七千美元的一等獎獎金以及三千美元的二等獎獎金分別由香港民主女神以及彩虹平權大平台獲得。2023-24人權加速器計劃參與者專訪系列介紹過五組 NGO Pitch Forum參與者，2025 年 1月，相隔將近九個月後，我們有幸再次和香港民主女神共同創辦人李伊東進行對話，他正在東京舉辦第二屆香港自由藝術獎的展覽，我們和他聊到 NGO Pitch Forum 結束至今香港民主女神經歷的改變以及未來展望。
香港民主女神於東京的展覽——第二屆香港自由藝術獎：香港象徵
- 你在NGO Pitch Forum上贏得了第一名後，獲得的獎金是否對你發展商業模式有所幫助？若有，能否告訴我們這筆獎金如何幫助你，以及你目前仍面臨的挑戰？
在 NGO Pitch Forum 贏得第一名對香港民主女神無疑是一個重要的時刻，這筆獎金使我們得以籌辦第二屆香港自由藝術獎及東京的展覽，為香港藝術家提供了向更廣大受眾發聲的平台，籌辦展覽從選擇場地到協調並確保各地的藝術品從全球各地（特別是香港）安全運送等都是一系列後勤相關的挑戰，如果沒有這筆獎金支持，舉辦如此規模的活動將會非常困難。
儘管有了現階段的成功，我們的主要挑戰仍在於如何持續吸引大眾關注我們在做的事，雖然舉辦展覽等活動期間，總是能激起大眾的興趣，但要持續保持互動，並將受眾群擴展至那些還不了解香港民主運動的人群，還是需要不斷努力，我們正在不斷努力尋找創新的方式與這些群眾建立聯繫，提升大眾的關注度並讓他們長期支持我們是未來發展的重點。
第二屆香港自由藝術獎展覽內部一景
- 你們剛剛結束第二屆香港自由藝術獎在東京的展覽，能否向我們的讀者介紹一下這次展覽？本次展覽與去年在台灣的展覽有何不同？本次展覽中是否有任何新的展品？
第二屆香港自由藝術獎在東京的展覽主題為「香港象徵」，選擇在充滿活力的惠比壽文化區展出。本次展覽展出了來自全球各地香港藝術家提交的40多件作品，許多藝術家在香港惡劣環境下仍堅持創作不懈。這些藝術品情感豐沛，捕捉了從懷有希望、反抗到懷舊與失落等情緒，提供日本觀眾一個難得且很有意義的機會，讓他們更加瞭解並同理香港人的生活和觀點。
相較於2023年台北的展覽，我們發現參展作品呈現出明顯的轉變，許多作品從更個人的角度出發，反映出藝術家的內心掙扎與情感旅程，這種變化促使我們在東京使用不同的策展方式，重點在於為觀眾打造更私密、更沉浸式的體驗，強調展覽的故事性，並輔以藝術家的說明與互動性高的展品，幫助觀眾更加理解藝術家的經歷，這些改變也讓本次東京的展覽獨一無二且能夠引起更多共鳴。
第二屆香港自由藝術獎展覽中互動性展品
- 你提到香港民主女神的網路商店「民主商店」剛剛上線，能否向我們介紹一下？
「民主商店」不僅是一家線上商店，更是一個透過富有意義的商品來傳遞自由、民主與創意價值的平台。舉例而言，我們其中一項產品是「日本紀州產金箔玻璃蒔絵漆器 」，這件精美工藝品象徵香港在星光閃爍下展現出的堅韌精神。此外，我們還提供一系列由合作的藝術家設計的原創海報，這些海報最初是用於宣傳我們的活動，其醒目的視覺效果和強烈的宣傳訊息，深受我們的支持者喜愛，成為傳遞我們使命的一種方式。
這個商店有兩個目的：一方面，這間商店能幫助我們募集資金以支持各項倡議；另一方面，這間商店也能讓支持者能以個人的身份參與我們的工作，每筆交易都在支持我們的展覽、倡議活動與創意計劃，確保我們的訊息能觸及全球更多人。民主商店透過結合藝術與行動主義，以一件件充滿意義的商品，持續傳遞民主精神。
民主商店販賣之日本紀州產金箔玻璃蒔絵漆器 《獅山辰宿》「瑠璃紺」
- 能否與我們分享香港民主女神2025年的目標以及未來計劃？
2025年，香港民主女神期望能繼續推動民主與自由使命，我們的主要目標之一是將香港自由藝術獎拓展至倫敦和紐約等全球更多地點，這些國際大都市能吸引更多元的受眾，並放大香港藝術家的聲音，透過在國際舞台展示他們的作品，我們希望能促進國際上的團結，提醒世界香港仍在為民主奮鬥。
除了擴大香港自由藝術獎，我們還預計擴大教育與倡議計劃，聚焦於提升大眾對香港困境的認知，以及提醒並警示威權主義對國際的影響。我們深信教育是激起行動的重要工具，因此我們致力於創造資源、舉辦活動和推動討論，鼓勵人們堅守民主價值。
另一項重點行動是啟動一系列新的創意計劃，這些計劃將奠基於香港自由藝術獎的成功之上，為藝術家和倡議人士提供合作、創新及表達爭取對更自由未來願景的平台。總而言之，我們對2025年及未來的願景是，持續建構香港與國際社會之間的橋樑，確保爭取民主的行動在全球舞台上保持能見度。
