Silvia Fok

Dr. Silvia Fok serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, bringing extensive expertise in contemporary Chinese art history and criticism. After completing her academic training with a Diploma in Design from Hong Kong Polytechnic and B.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Hong Kong, she has established herself as a leading voice in Chinese art studies. Her scholarly work includes significant publications such as "Life and Death: Art and the Body in Contemporary China" (2013), which examines how Chinese artists use corporeality to explore social and cultural issues. Before joining the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies in July 2020, she served at PolyU's General Education Centre from 2010, following teaching positions at the Hong Kong Art School, University of Hong Kong's Department of Fine Arts, and Chinese University of Hong Kong's Department of Cultural and Religious Studies. Her research particularly focuses on performance art, installations, and photography in contemporary Chinese art, with special attention to how artists engage with themes of life and death through bodily expression. From 2002 to 2004, she made significant contributions to the Hong Kong Art Archive project as project coordinator, helping to document and preserve Hong Kong's artistic heritage.