The Department of Sociology at The University of Hong Kong recently welcomed alumnus Jay Hofmann-Forster, Co-founder and Creative Director of the Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival, for an engaging seminar as part of the Media, Culture and Creative Cities (MCCC) Speaker Series. Drawing on his extensive artistic and professional journey, Hofmann-Forster guided students through five representative projects, framing each through four core pillars: curiosity, intention, process, and reflection.

The first project, Spandex, illustrated how temporary spatial interventions can radically alter human experience. By wrapping an entire room in spandex and introducing creative lighting, Hofmann-Forster sought to alter the intended use of an ordinary space and build an immersive environment. This theme of spatial and cultural inquiry continued in High & Dry, an artistic response to the transformation of the historic Graham Street Market. By engaging with a contested urban environment, the project questioned what art can reveal about community purpose and cultural memory.

Bridging practice and academia, Hofmann-Forster reflected on his time as an MCCC student and highlighted how his academic research intersected with his professional work as Co-founder of Clockenflap. His Capstone project investigated the intricate relationship between government policy, institutions, and independent arts practitioners in Hong Kong. Through fifteen in-depth interviews, his research examined the local cultural ecology and questioned whether Hong Kong could function without a dedicated Cultural Bureau. This critical inquiry directly enriched his ongoing work with Clockenflap. Tracing the festival’s evolution from a modest gathering into a major international cultural fixture, he emphasised that true success transcends attendance figures, rooting itself instead in communitas—the shared sense of social solidarity—and genuine cross-cultural artistic exchange.

The final project, Minkymax, introduced a mobile and modular theatre, which is designed to spark unexpected encounters between main festival stages. Supported by the HKSAR Government’s Art Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS), the project highlighted the value of shared authorship, negotiation, and collaboration across diverse groups

Concluding the seminar, Hofmann-Forster noted that while clear intentions do not guarantee predictable outcomes, creating the right conditions, investing time, and putting in the effort allow creativity to naturally manifest. As an MCCC alumnus speaking to the current cohort, he closed with practical advice for Capstone students: cultivate a genuine curiosity to find a worthwhile question, examine your intentions, follow the evidence through a rigorous process, and continuously reflect to refine your work.

About the series: The Media, Culture and Creative Cities Speaker Series consists of high-level seminars where we invite leading industry figures and academic speakers to HKU Sociology to share their insights into the role that media, culture and creativity plays in shaping society