‘You can’t be burdened by a legacy’: James Taylor-Foster on his vision for Hong Kong's Para Site as it turns 30

As Para Site, Hong Kong's prominent non-profit art institution, celebrates its 30th anniversary, it faces a new era under the direction of James Taylor-Foster. The 33-year-old British curator, appointed in March, steps into a role previously held by several internationally renowned directors. Taylor-Foster envisions Para Site's next chapter as a blend of continuity and change, moving contemporary art within a broader spectrum of creative practices.

His distinctive appearance and extensive online presence set him apart, but his varied background—including architecture, design, and digital culture—brings a fresh perspective to the institution. Unlike previous directors who primarily came from visual arts, Taylor-Foster's experience spans nearly a decade at ArkDes, Sweden's national museum for architecture and design, where he co-curated notable exhibitions, including one on sensory culture that toured internationally.

While acknowledging the legacy of Para Site, Taylor-Foster emphasizes that "you can't be burdened by a legacy," suggesting the institution must rethink its identity in a transformed cultural landscape. Founded in 1996 by a group of seven Hong Kong artists, Para Site originally emerged as an artist-run space, evolving over time into a more curator-driven institution with a roster of internationally recognized directors.

Hong Kong's cultural scene has expanded significantly since Para Site's inception, with the establishment of prominent institutions like M+, Tai Kwun, and CHAT, alongside a proliferation of commercial galleries. To navigate this evolving context, Taylor-Foster plans to focus on listening and understanding the needs of the institution and its community during his initial months in Hong Kong.

He suggests that Para Site's future may involve a return to its earlier ethos of contemporary art as a "present interrogating itself," embracing more blended and porous practices that integrate music, dance, and live art. Rather than solely focusing on scale, Taylor-Foster emphasizes the importance of how audiences engage with the institution, striving to lower the barriers to entry without compromising the ambition of its offerings.

He advocates for exhibition formats that grant artists greater autonomy and suggests that simple gestures could significantly impact how audiences interact with Para Site. The move from the current Quarry Bay premises, where the institution has been based for the past decade, is a priority, as the space has reached its capacity.

For Taylor-Foster, this relocation represents an opportunity to rethink both the programme and the architecture collectively, questioning how exhibitions might fit within a new space rather than how the existing space accommodates exhibitions. Ultimately, Taylor-Foster reiterates the institution's experimental spirit, describing it as a "nurturing garden" for developing artists and curators—those who will shape the future of Hong Kong's art community.