CityUHK’s wins GovMedia Award for 2nd consecutive year with “Tunnel of Future Innovations” —— transforming daily footsteps into an inspirational gallery through creative innovation
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has clinched the prestigious "Hong Kong Digital Initiative of the Year – Education" accolade at the GovMedia Awards 2026 for its immersive digital space, the "Tunnel of Future Innovations". Following its victory last year with the University-wide Digitalisation Programme, this marks the second consecutive year that CityUHK has secured this top honour, affirming the University’s continuous endeavours in driving innovative education, digital transformation and the integration of cutting-edge technology with creativity.
The GovMedia Awards, organised by the premier international media platform GovMedia, recognise outstanding achievements in digital initiatives, technological innovations and community engagement spearheaded by public sectors, organisations and tertiary institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. This latest accolade highlights the Tunnel's innovative spatial design and exceptional social impact, successfully transforming an ordinary pedestrian walkway into a vibrant landmark for culture and innovation, while injecting dynamic vitality into the daily paths traversed by students and staff.
The highly versatile 50-metre tunnel serves more than the functions of digital communication and research dissemination, it also acts as a practical stage for the University to nurture multidisciplinary talents, enabling youth and artists to unleash their brilliance in design, artificial intelligence (AI) and creative media. Prior to this award, the Tunnel had already earned the "ArtCan Cultural Award" presented by Sing Tao News Corporation, as well as the Silver Award in the “Interior Design - Best Education” at the A&D Awards.
The "Tunnel of Future Innovations" has been committed to providing a creative stage for students and faculty. Recently, under the guidance of Professor Samson Young of the School of Creative Media, and alumnus and media artist Vvzela Kook, a cohort of Master of Fine Arts students skillfully integrated AI-generated content (AIGC), hand-drawn illustrations, and transmedia techniques to showcase three thought-provoking media art pieces in the Tunnel, leading pedestrians through a mesmerising interplay of reality and virtuality.
Daisy Field in Memory (Created by Xia Qingtian):
Inspired by the Impressionist brushstrokes of master painter Claude Monet, the visuals present soft colours and a warm texture of light and shadow. The creator weaves a " dream-within-a-dream" narrative divided into four chapters, telling the story of a girl who transforms into a butterfly to seek the pure wild daisy fields of her childhood memories amidst a bustling metropolis. The piece delicately reflects the helplessness and melancholy over the gradual fading of pure nature under rapid technological development, as well as the irreplaceable distance between modern individuals and their childhood innocence.
Mystic Train (Created by Yang Hantao, Peng Junhe, Xia Qingtian): This is a site-specific creation tailored to the unique elongated spatial characteristics of the Tunnel. Capitalizing on the extensive screens flanking both sides to simulate train windows, complemented by the rhythmic rumble and fluid motion of a moving train, the team transforms an ordinary corridor into a fantastical journey spanning the past and the future. The piece gently encourages hurried urban commuters to slow down, re-examine their daily lives, and experience the warmth of walking alongside others on the journey of life.
The Witch White (Created by Cao Zhihui Klee, Zhang Tingmei Tmoi, Chan Pok Him Jonathan): Drawing inspiration from the classic fairy tale Bluebeard, the video breaks away from traditional animation frameworks with its bold dark art style and cinematic hand-drawn animation to explore trauma and self-redemption. The narrative revolves around a black cat journeying through six progressive secret chambers—including the eternal train, the endless staircase, and the corridor of mirrors—to regain the White Witch's full strength. The piece underscores that only by confrontingly embracing one's inner trauma and shadows can one perceive their true self and genuinely understand this complex world.
In addition, the Tunnel has previously hosted a student photography exhibition, showcasing how CityUHK students capture Hong Kong's unique interplay of light and shadow as well as diverse social vignettes through their lenses, demonstrating the sharp cultural perceptiveness of young people through visual storytelling.
Beyond the creative achievements of university faculty and students, the Tunnel actively collaborates with local artists to facilitate the flow of culture and art between the campus and the community. The University recently joined hands with a local visual artist to create a large-scale digital art piece, "My Neighbourhood, My CityUHK", which blends digital elements with local culture. The visuals masterfully intertwine iconic CityUHK architectural landmarks with the local storefronts of Sham Shui Po and the symbolic Lion Rock, conveying messages of "love and blessings". The project bridges the distance between the campus and the neighbourhood, utilising art to foster community cohesion and allowing creativity and culture to harmonise beautifully.
Since its inception, the "Tunnel of Future Innovations" has featured a diverse range of content, encompassing digital art exhibitions, transmedia creations, international collaborations and major academic events. Moving forward, CityUHK will continue to optimise the Tunnel's strengths as a platform for creative curation and public engagement. The University looks forward to actively expanding cross-disciplinary collaborations with other tertiary institutions, art organisations, and various sectors of society to jointly explore the infinite possibilities at the intersection of technology and art, while providing an empowering stage for more young people and local artists to showcase their talents.
Media enquiries:
Him Chak, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 6807)
The GovMedia Awards, organised by the premier international media platform GovMedia, recognise outstanding achievements in digital initiatives, technological innovations and community engagement spearheaded by public sectors, organisations and tertiary institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. This latest accolade highlights the Tunnel's innovative spatial design and exceptional social impact, successfully transforming an ordinary pedestrian walkway into a vibrant landmark for culture and innovation, while injecting dynamic vitality into the daily paths traversed by students and staff.
The highly versatile 50-metre tunnel serves more than the functions of digital communication and research dissemination, it also acts as a practical stage for the University to nurture multidisciplinary talents, enabling youth and artists to unleash their brilliance in design, artificial intelligence (AI) and creative media. Prior to this award, the Tunnel had already earned the "ArtCan Cultural Award" presented by Sing Tao News Corporation, as well as the Silver Award in the “Interior Design - Best Education” at the A&D Awards.
The "Tunnel of Future Innovations" has been committed to providing a creative stage for students and faculty. Recently, under the guidance of Professor Samson Young of the School of Creative Media, and alumnus and media artist Vvzela Kook, a cohort of Master of Fine Arts students skillfully integrated AI-generated content (AIGC), hand-drawn illustrations, and transmedia techniques to showcase three thought-provoking media art pieces in the Tunnel, leading pedestrians through a mesmerising interplay of reality and virtuality.
Daisy Field in Memory (Created by Xia Qingtian):
Inspired by the Impressionist brushstrokes of master painter Claude Monet, the visuals present soft colours and a warm texture of light and shadow. The creator weaves a " dream-within-a-dream" narrative divided into four chapters, telling the story of a girl who transforms into a butterfly to seek the pure wild daisy fields of her childhood memories amidst a bustling metropolis. The piece delicately reflects the helplessness and melancholy over the gradual fading of pure nature under rapid technological development, as well as the irreplaceable distance between modern individuals and their childhood innocence.
Mystic Train (Created by Yang Hantao, Peng Junhe, Xia Qingtian): This is a site-specific creation tailored to the unique elongated spatial characteristics of the Tunnel. Capitalizing on the extensive screens flanking both sides to simulate train windows, complemented by the rhythmic rumble and fluid motion of a moving train, the team transforms an ordinary corridor into a fantastical journey spanning the past and the future. The piece gently encourages hurried urban commuters to slow down, re-examine their daily lives, and experience the warmth of walking alongside others on the journey of life.
The Witch White (Created by Cao Zhihui Klee, Zhang Tingmei Tmoi, Chan Pok Him Jonathan): Drawing inspiration from the classic fairy tale Bluebeard, the video breaks away from traditional animation frameworks with its bold dark art style and cinematic hand-drawn animation to explore trauma and self-redemption. The narrative revolves around a black cat journeying through six progressive secret chambers—including the eternal train, the endless staircase, and the corridor of mirrors—to regain the White Witch's full strength. The piece underscores that only by confrontingly embracing one's inner trauma and shadows can one perceive their true self and genuinely understand this complex world.
In addition, the Tunnel has previously hosted a student photography exhibition, showcasing how CityUHK students capture Hong Kong's unique interplay of light and shadow as well as diverse social vignettes through their lenses, demonstrating the sharp cultural perceptiveness of young people through visual storytelling.
Beyond the creative achievements of university faculty and students, the Tunnel actively collaborates with local artists to facilitate the flow of culture and art between the campus and the community. The University recently joined hands with a local visual artist to create a large-scale digital art piece, "My Neighbourhood, My CityUHK", which blends digital elements with local culture. The visuals masterfully intertwine iconic CityUHK architectural landmarks with the local storefronts of Sham Shui Po and the symbolic Lion Rock, conveying messages of "love and blessings". The project bridges the distance between the campus and the neighbourhood, utilising art to foster community cohesion and allowing creativity and culture to harmonise beautifully.
Since its inception, the "Tunnel of Future Innovations" has featured a diverse range of content, encompassing digital art exhibitions, transmedia creations, international collaborations and major academic events. Moving forward, CityUHK will continue to optimise the Tunnel's strengths as a platform for creative curation and public engagement. The University looks forward to actively expanding cross-disciplinary collaborations with other tertiary institutions, art organisations, and various sectors of society to jointly explore the infinite possibilities at the intersection of technology and art, while providing an empowering stage for more young people and local artists to showcase their talents.
Him Chak, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 6807)
Winnie Li, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221)