Mind-controlled drone-flying at Hong Kong’s Being Human Festival among varied programme

The Being Human Festival in Hong Kong, running from November 5 to 15, is the city’s first edition of the UK’s national festival of the humanities. Organized by the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Arts, the festival aims to challenge the notion that arts and sciences are mutually exclusive, and highlights the importance of humanities in understanding the world and engaging in social realities.

Among the diverse programme, a notable activity is the Mindful Connections drone workshop, where participants use neuro-feedback headsets to direct external devices through concentrated thought. The event also includes a Resonant Reveries project by new media artist Chris Cheung, who transforms neural activity into physical performance.

Running alongside technological workshops, the festival offers slow-paced experiences such as cyanotype photography and kombucha brewing. The organizers emphasize the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, suggesting that slowing down can lead to meaningful reflection and discovery.

The festival's activities range from a literary event showcasing personal stories to a day trip to Guangzhou’s Mirrored Gardens, where art and local food meet. Ultimately, the festival seeks to transform academic inquiry into a community-wide dialogue, providing a platform for diverse voices to contribute to ongoing conversations.