Asia Art Archive (AAA) will present At 25: Artists’ Early Worlds, Part II as the concluding chapter of its 25th anniversary programme series, Archive for All: Growing with Communities, opening on 24 July and running until 31 October at its library in Sheung Wan.

The exhibition builds on the question, “What were you doing at 25?” and explores the formative years of Pakistani artist and educator Salima Hashmi, Hong Kong photographer Holly Lee, Korean artist and curator Bahc Yiso, and India’s Raqs Media Collective.

According to AAA, the exhibition brings together rare archival materials sourced from the artists, their families and partner institutions, alongside early artworks, to recreate the artists’ lives and creative practices at the age of 25.

Part II highlights how artistic practices often extend beyond artmaking into fields such as education, writing and advocacy. The exhibition also examines the broader social and cultural contexts that shaped the artists’ work while incorporating personal recollections and stories shared by family members and collaborators.

The display will feature two newly commissioned works. One explores artist Salima Hashmi’s reflections on the fragility of memory, while the other sees Raqs Media Collective revisiting an unrealized project.

An opening reception and curator-led tour will be held on 24 July from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at AAA’s library, with the guided tour scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Jeebesh Bagchi, a member of Raqs Media Collective, is expected to attend.

Bagchi will also lead an artist-guided tour, showcase original film footage and participate in a conversation on 25 July from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public upon registration.

Founded in 2000, AAA has built a network of artists, researchers and institutions across Asia and beyond, with the exhibition showcasing the organization’s archival collections and research methodologies developed over the past 25 years.

At 25: Artists’ Early Worlds, Part II will be held at the CCG Library, Asia Art Archive, 11/F Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.