'WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR' Is a Multi-Sensory Exploration
Making its international debut in Asia with its stop in Hong Kong.
WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR exhibit curated by James Taylor-Foster is an all-immersive exploration of the popular multi-sensory experience. Created and presented in collaboration with Sweden’s National Centre for Architecture and Design, ArkDes, as well as the Design Museum in London, the large-scale presentation explores the way ASMR makes audiences feel.
By definition, ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Responses — a term used to describe a physical sensation of deep calm and euphoria, often described as a “tingling” in the body. Across the internet, innumerable
and ever-evolving works of ASMR garner billions of views. This cultural movement has grown into a global phenomenon that is, uniquely, rooted in kindness, empathy, and self-care. The latest presentation of the exhibit at Hong Kong’s new AIRSIDE features newly commissioned works by local artists AK Kan and Kin Lam, who showcase the city’s unique auditory identity. The exhibit also features a designated section where attendees can create their own ASMR works using everyday objects. In the Hong Kong-specific section, the installation recreates the environment of the city’s public transport system, featuring close-listening sessions of Hong Kong soundscapes.
In another part of the exhibit, visitors are able to immerse themselves in the “ASMR Arena,” which features a myriad of audio-visual ASMR works inside and around the space that is constructed out of soft woven pillows. There is also an atmosphere room dedicated to TV personality Bob Ross, who is known as the “Godfather of ASMR” even displaying three of his original paintings alongside episodes from his iconic The Joy of Painting TV show. The ASMR exhibit addresses new structures of community and intimacy along themes of loneliness and isolation that pivot ASMR from being a cultural phenom to an emerging field of creativity. The exhibit runs from now until July 13, 2025.
WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR
GATE33 Gallery, L312
AIRSIDE
2 Concorde Rd
Kai Tak, Hong Kong
