Explore world over tea, coffee

The Coffee and SerendipiTea exhibition will feature Yumi Umiumare’s pop-up tearoom with visitors becoming part of the artwork, with a virtual space to embrace elements of the ‘unknown’ over a bowl of matcha tea.
“The inspiration for a pop-up tearoom came from the classic Japanese tea ceremony, which has a small door where people have to bow to enter, dropping the hierarchy of the outside world,” Umiumare said.
“Also, around the 16th century, during wartime, tearooms were created in the middle of war zones. The major role of the tea ceremony was to relieve emotional stress, restore social order, and capture the silent interactions in a tearoom.”
Pamela Leung’s wall installation, neon sculptures, photography, video and performance art will explore the concept of identity, using the coffee shop as a microcosm for society.
“It examines how we can choose to participate in social spaces and how it’s often more challenging for immigrants to immerse themselves fully into society,” Leung said.
“Tea and coffee hold deep personal significance for me – they represent moments of pause, reflection and connection.
“Having run a cafe, I’ve witnessed firsthand how these drinks bring people together, fostering conversations and community.
“Whether it’s a morning cup of coffee to start the day or an afternoon tea break, these rituals are woven into the fabric of our everyday existence.”
You can catch Coffee and SerendipiTea exhibition until September 7.