{
  "id": 8339533,
  "title": "In Pictures: Hong Kong sex work exhibition explores violence and bodily autonomy in an underground industry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/in-pictures-hong-kong-sex-work-exhibition-explores-violence-and",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T00:28:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hong Kong Free Press",
    "slug": "hong-kong-free-press-hongkongfp",
    "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/09/19/in-pictures-hong-kong-sex-work-exhibition-explores-violence-and-bodily-autonomy-in-an-underground-industry/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Boxes of condoms, AI-generated images of sex workers, and a computer displaying a website for part-time girlfriends fill the exhibition space at Heath in Tsim Sha Tsui. The venue, aptly chosen for the A Body of One’s Own exhibition, was once a hub for nightclubs situated in the basement of Chungking Mansions. Organized by three non-governmental organizations that aid Hong Kong's sex workers – Action for Reach Out, Teen’s Key, and Midnight Blue – the two-week-long showcase aims to highlight the industry's history and address sensitive topics like violence, choice, and bodily autonomy.\n\nCurator Wong Ka-ying, an artist and writer, emphasized the exhibition's dual mission of celebrating sex work and delving into its complexities. \"Sex work is one of the oldest industries in the world, with over 3,000 years of history, yet the stigma surrounding it remains widespread,\" he remarked in Cantonese during a media preview. \"However, why is our comprehension of sex work still so limited today, given the advancements of human civilization?\" Wong questioned, sparking a thought-provoking exploration of the subject.\n\nTo further engage the audience, exhibition organizers invited four individuals with firsthand experience in the sex work industry to share their stories. Daphne, who identifies as a \"professional domme,\" recounted her journey into the BDSM scene, beginning with rope play in 2022. Initially captivated by latex and the dominant role, Daphne now teaches rope bondage and maintains an online directory for sex workers. Her story exemplifies the diverse paths within the sex work industry, further emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of its complexities.",
  "summary": "Boxes of condoms, AI-generated photos of sex workers, and a computer opened up to a part-time girlfriends website sit inside Heath, an event space in Tsim Sha Tsui. The venue is perhaps a fitting one for A Body of One’s Own, an exhibition spotlighting the history of sex work in Hong Kong. Located in the […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Exhibition explores Hong Kong sex work industry's history and complexities",
    "Curator Wong Ka-ying highlights stigma and limited understanding",
    "Four sex workers share personal stories to illustrate industry's diversity"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The exhibition humanizes sex work by showcasing its history and complexities, challenging stigma and sparking nuanced discussion through personal stories and artifacts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-09-18T19:06:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "In Pictures: Hong Kong sex work exhibition explores violence and bodily autonomy in an underground industry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/in-pictures-hong-kong-sex-work-exhibition-explores-violence-and-8342940",
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  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}