May 11, 2025–June 11, 2026
The JadeWalkers: a living experiment in cultural storytelling
From the historic crossroads of Marco Polo’s odyssey emerges a radical reimagining of heritage — and a bold experiment in the future of storytelling.
The JadeWalkers transforms intangible cultural memory into speculative “living archival monuments” — hybrid beings that move between worlds, carrying with them the textures, forms, and spirit of Hong Kong’s architectural and textile heritage.
Grounded in T.Lab’s independent research, the project weaves together architecture and textile archival study, design experimentation, narrative world-building, performance, and cinematic sequencing to explore how heritage can evolve beyond preservation into active cultural imagination. Invited artists and creatives were commissioned to contribute new works and adaptations, which were then integrated under T.Lab’s artistic direction into a unified artistic composition with film as a final output.
From stage to system: a transversal shift
What began as a staged performance has since grown into a broader creative platform — one that treats heritage not as an artifact to be displayed, but as a living design language to be adapted, reinterpreted, and experienced.
Following its public debut, The JadeWalkers entered a new phase of exploration. T.Lab is now inviting creatives and technologists to prototype a constellation of experimental works:
–An experimental short film blending heritage-inspired visuals with animation.
–Wearable artworks developed through experimental couture and generative processes.
–Extended-reality environments, sonic landscapes, and scent-memory interfaces that reimagine how cultural narratives can be embodied.
These experiments are not reproductions of any single performance, but rather continuations of the project’s original inquiry: How can cultural identity be activated across time, space, and medium?
A platform for future collaboration
Looking ahead, The JadeWalkers will serve as an open framework for transdisciplinary partnerships with institutions, brands, and creators seeking to redefine how heritage is experienced.
At its heart lies a simple but radical proposition: what if heritage were not archived — but activated?
*Commissioned artists were credited in the official Venice Biennale archives.
