About HKWD

Welcome to the Hong Kong Web Developer Group (HKWD) — a vibrant monthly meetup based in Hong Kong, dedicated to fostering growth within the local and greater Asian web developer communities. The group is proudly community-funded, and we deeply appreciate the support from our hosts, volunteers, and venues.

We are a passionate collective of developers, technologists, designers, and creatives who share a love for web technology. Our journey encompasses all things web, including frontend and backend development, design, AI, hardware, and IoT innovations like Raspberry Pis and ESP32s, as well as AR/VR/XR. With the web being integral to so many aspects of modern technology, our main objective is to share knowledge and learn from one another.

Join us to explore, innovate, and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about shaping the future of web technology.

About the Organiser

Rhys Turner

Hong Kong based artist and technologist Rhys Turner seamlessly blends art and technology to enlighten through the viewer/user/author experience of his creations. After completing a Master of Visual Arts in Media Arts at Sydney College of the Arts in 2005 and receiving an Australian Postgraduate Award for his degree, Turner has been deeply engaged with interactive and new media modes. His journey began with an exhibition in the student section of "2001: A Space Odyssey: Sensation and Immersion" at the NSW Art Gallery in 2001. His work spans diverse interactive and new media forms, from Web, Video, and NetArt to Interactive Sculpture, Installations, and Performance.

Turner's master's project, "Video Stereo," is part of his "Etherscapes" body of work. It utilizes a 1200 Technics turntable, a computer system, and a modified 1960s stereo unit to enable audience interaction with video and sound. This piece explores the societal influence of media and reverses that process by empowering the audience with control of the image. Other themes in his work include non-linear, chaotic, and 'micro' narratives, as well as alternative interfaces and digital aesthetics. Turner's creations challenge traditional perceptions, aiming to inspire thought and reflection on current social trends and imagery.

During a residency at CESTA in Tabor, Czech Republic, Turner met "EU and A Little Mistake," a performance group of four dancers, and has aspired to collaborate with them ever since. During his stay, Turner developed an interactive tunnel with his collaborators, using sensors to trigger sound and light through physical computing. Although a collaboration at CESTA did not materialise, the residency sparked a fusion of ideas and an investigative art project titled "Move. Play. Find." — exploring communication and awareness of contemporary social culture through an interactive performance/dance/narrative involving both the audience and artists.

Turner's past work, "Heard," an Experimenta Commission in Melbourne on 12th February 2010, employs complex tracking technology. Visitors wear a headpiece and become characters both physically and virtually in a projected 3D environment. Each character shares a story through conversations that unfold as participants move around the space and interact with the work. The artwork delves into online culture within physical space, presenting a new form of non-linear narrative.