The Pearl Lam Podcast

The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Su Xiaobai

In this Mandarin-language episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam speaks with artist Su Xiaobai. The discussion centres on Su’s practice, shaped by material, process and repetition, with a focus on his lacquer works. Reflecting on his development, he considers the interplay between control and chance, and the role of time, discipline and surface in the formation of his paintings. The episode also addresses the philosophical and cultural frameworks underpinning his work, including the influence of Eastern thought and the tension between tradition and contemporary expression. Working predominantly in monochrome, Su’s practice resists narrative, instead emphasising texture, depth and perception.

The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Harry Lee

In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined by Harry Lee, founder and chairman of the Hong Kong Choral Foundation, for a discussion on music, education and community-building in Hong Kong. The conversation explores choral music not simply as performance, but as a form of social and educational infrastructure. Lee reflects on the foundation’s efforts to provide students from under-resourced schools with access to structured choir training, and discusses how collective singing can foster confidence, discipline, collaboration and a stronger sense of belonging.

The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Angelle Siyang-Le

In this episode, Angelle Siyang-Le, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong, offers a measured and direct perspective on the realities shaping the art world. Grounded in her experience, she reflects on the differences between Eastern and Western frameworks, where competition is not inherently oppositional, but can function as a form of shared advancement. A passing comment in Hong Kong, describing the city as a “cultural desert,” becomes a point of interrogation, raising questions around perception, cultural authority, and how narratives are constructed. The discussion remains focused on how value is defined and sustained, and how cities position themselves within a global cultural landscape that continues to shift.

The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Qiu Anxiong & David Chan

In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined in Shanghai by Hong Kong-based curator David Chan and artist Qiu Anxiong to reflect on the evolving landscape of Chinese contemporary art. The conversation explores questions of visibility, cultural influence and the frameworks that have shaped global perceptions of Chinese contemporary art. Looking back to the early 2000s, when Chinese artists dominated biennials, exhibitions and auctions, they consider whether the current shift marks a decline or a more complex structural rebalancing. They also examine the expanding cultural infrastructure across Hong Kong and mainland China, and what it means for artists to engage with global audiences on their own terms through sustained inquiry, intellectual rigour and evolving forms of cultural exchange.

The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Alimi Adewale & Maria Bojan

In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined by artist Alimi Adewale and curator Maria Bojan for a conversation on art, authorship and the complexities of the global contemporary landscape. The discussion examines the Western tradition of “art for art’s sake” and the expectation that artists must occupy fixed positions within cultural discourse. Together, they question the role of taste in shaping art history and address the persistent “fetish of authenticity” that continues to frame how non-Western artists are perceived in a global context. The conversation also considers what it means for artists from China, Africa, Europe and beyond to engage with one another outside imposed narratives — focusing instead on artistic strength, intention and shared creative language. A dialogue on cultural exchange, critical frameworks and the shifting structures of the art world today.