Fans of legendary Hong Kong rock band Beyond now have a chance to visit a dedicated exhibition titled “Eternal Melody: Beyond Legend” (“永恆旋律·Beyond傳奇”).
Spanning 10 Fantasia Gallery’s rooms C01 and C02, the exhibition kicked off on Saturday and features everything from cassettes and records to posters and even some toys. The exhibits come from memorabilia collectors Lam Ka-lok and CK, who are respectively from Hong Kong and Macau.
Among Lam’s collection of posters, which include those from Hong Kong movies and music from different periods, a statement displayed at the gallery noted that the ones featuring Beyond are some of his most cherished items allowing him to feel a sense of nostalgia, hoping that exhibitiongoers can share the same experience.
Beyond is also the favourite band of local collector CK, who has been immersed in researching the cultural scene of Hong Kong’s music industry from the 1980s and 1990s, the statement said, adding that CK hopes to pay tribute to the band through his collection.
The statement pointed out that the exhibition is providing a review of the band’s “significant contributions across various dimensions, including music, film, and culture, showcasing their invaluable contributions to popular music, television dramas, and films”.
Beyond is a band that has left an indelible mark. Formed in 1983, the popular band featured principal members Wong Ka Kui* (1962-1993) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, drummer Yip Sai Wing, bassist Steve Wong Ka Keung, and Paul Wong Koon-chung on lead guitar, according to Wikipedia. Among their best known songs are “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies (海闊天空)” and “Glorious Years (光輝歲月)”. Beyond officially stopped performing and recording after their final concert on May 27, 2005, marking their disbandment.
Aside from music, the band had also cameoed and acted in movies, even providing the Cantonese voice dub of the 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and its sequel, according to Wikipedia, with posters also showcased at the exhibition.
Exhibitiongoers may visit the free-admission gallery located on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋堂斜巷) from Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until July 27. It is closed on Sundays. More information can be found on the 10 Fantasia Facebook page or website.
*Wong Ka Kui, who was also the band’s primary songwriter, died in 1993 while filming a gameshow in Japan, according to Wikipedia, falling from a stage and sustaining severe head injuries. He was 31 years old.
Photos: Rui Pastorin
