Hoyee Tse is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship in 2023. Her doctoral research explores the role of visual imagery in Hong Kong social movement in fostering pro-democratic values and identity examining the extent to which this visual imagery reflects and shapes the identity of Hongkongers. Prior to her doctoral study, she obtained a BA in Italian and History of Art and a MA in Museums and Galleries in Education (with Distinction) at University College London and a MA in Dutch Art History at the University of Amsterdam.
Hoyee Tse
Iconography of glocal visual production: Nation, identity and social movements in Hong Kong
Supervisors
Professor Wessie Ling, Dr Gordana Uzelac and Rachal Bradley
Abstract
The Hong Kong social movement between 2019 and 2020 was one of the most significant events since the city returned to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. This research examines the representation of the visual production in the movement and its role in fostering pro-democratic values and Hongkonger identity. Utilising iconography and iconology theories, it evaluates how and to what extent the movement’s visual production defines these values and identities.
The study focuses on visual interpretation and meaning-making of glocal visual imagery, particularly iconic visual images adopted locally for the movement. It scrutinises their role and embedded socio-political messages by comparing and contrasting the incarnation of local visual imageries on social media with the original visual images from social movements in other nations. It investigates their
interrelations to the new values and identity of Hongkongers and how these interact. Through systematic evaluation of archival materials, a (de)coding system will be developed to analyse the symbolic representation and contextual significance of these images.
Hoyee Tse is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship in 2023. Her doctoral research explores the role of visual imagery in Hong Kong social movement in fostering pro-democratic values and identity examining the extent to which this visual imagery reflects and shapes the identity of Hongkongers. Prior to her doctoral study, she obtained a BA in Italian and History of Art and a MA in Museums and Galleries in Education (with Distinction) at University College London and a MA in Dutch Art History at the University of Amsterdam.
She was 2022 Design Trust/RCA Fellow at the Royal College of Art. Her project explores the potentiality of digitally co-curating local design and cultural history collections with small entrepreneurs in London and Hong Kong. In 2023, she was the Young Researcher Fellow of the Creative Impact Research Centre Europe (CIRCE) of u-institut, investigating the representation and employment of Asian cultural and curatorial professionals. In addition, she has research and working experience across the arts and cultural sector, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery, London.
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Tse, Hoyee and Ling, Wessie (2026). “Visual Diplomacy: Visual Politics and Liberal Imaginaries in Transnational Activism on Hong Kong”, Asiascape: Digital Asia. (forthcoming)
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Publications Tse, Hoyee. (2024). Curating as an Asian in the UK: a path strewn with pitfalls. ICOM Voices.
- Tse, Hoyee. (2024). Museums, Safeguarding Our Memories in Perpetuity. Cultural Caleidoscoop, Issue 2.
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Tse, Hoyee. (2026) Seizing Change: Artefacts and Findings in Visual-Material Activism. London: London Metropolitan University, 18th March. (Organiser)
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Tse, Hoyee. (2026) “Visual Overload: Challenges of researching images from the Hong Kong social movements”. In: Seizing Change: Artefacts and Findings in Visual-Material Activism. London: London Metropolitan University, 18th March.
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Tse, Hoyee. (2026) “Legitimacy of Resistance: the reinvention of Liberty Leading the People in Hong Kong’s social movements”. In: the College Art Association 114th Annual Conference. Chicago: College Art Association, 19th February (Sponsored by Design History Society).
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Tse, Hoyee. (2026) “Clashing with the State: the visual depictions of state violence by artist-protestors in the 2019-20 Hong Kong social movement”. In: Global Informality in the Arts. London: Pushkin House, University College London, 16th January.
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Tse, Hoyee. (2025) “Threading Resistance, Stitching Solidarity: Tactical Interventions of the T-shirt in Hong Kong Social Movements”. In: Everyday Resistance: Thinking, making, and living in the material world. Brighton: Centre for Design History and Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics, University of Brighton, 6th November.
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Tse, Hoyee and Damoiseaux, Aurore. (2025) Seeing Change: Methodological Approaches to Audio, Visual and Material Cultures in Activist Movements. Co-organisers, London: London Metropolitan University, 24th April.
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Tse, Hoyee. (2024). Politicisation of Public Buildings as Colonial Cultural Heritage in Postcolonial Hong Kong. Presentation in the 4th Workshops of Early Career Scholars on Hong Kong History. Bristol: University of Bristol, 6th November.
- Tse, Hoyee. (2024) Demolitions of public buildings: The challenges of decolonisation. Conference presentation in Destruction by design: The legacies of damage of cultural heritage. Dundee: V&A Dundee, September.
- Tes, Hoyee. (2024). Asian Culture on Stage. Panel discussion with Hsu, Amy and Joey Jepps hosted by the Undone Theatre. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
- British Art Network member (Jan 2025 – date)
- Hong Kong History Centre member, University of Bristol (Nov 2024 – date)
Email: hot0088@my.londonmet.ac.uk