In November 2022, through Artivive, the world’s most famous AR art and production platform, Ivan Wong participated in a public competition recommended by the official platform. In December of the same year, two of Ivan’s works were fortunate enough to be shortlisted, and he was the only Hong Kong artist participating in the exhibition that day. The two works were exhibited at the Fifth Rome International Art Exhibition held in Rome in December 2022, at a well-known gallery located next to the ancient Roman arena, organized by ITSliquid group, which has held many large-scale exhibitions.

: Rome International Art Fair 5th Edition

ITSliquid is a group that promotes contemporary art, architecture, and design through international exhibitions, events, and publications. The group was founded in 2005 in Venice, Italy and has since expanded its reach globally, organizing exhibitions and events in major cities such as New York, London, Paris, and Beijing. ITSliquid aims to bring together professionals from different fields to explore new ideas and perspectives. Cultural convergence was one of the main themes of this exhibition.

The exhibition featured two of Ivan’s shortlisted works titled “A Song Dynasty Symphony at Lai Yuen” and “Song Metropolis“. In addition to being Ivan’s first overseas exhibition, it was also the first time that Song Dynasty themes and Hong Kong AR (Augmented Reality) oil painting artworks were exhibited overseas, which has significant historical significance. The exhibition showcased the works of contemporary artists from around the world, including works by artists who combined Indian oil painting with East Asian culture and shortlisted artists from different countries and regions.

Ivan said: “During the exchange abroad, I was pleasantly surprised to find that many foreigners were interested in my works and asked me many questions. I also had artistic exchanges with a descendant of Chinese-Indian mixed ancestry born in the Mediterranean and whose ancestors were from Dengjia Village, Hong Kong. Her skill of incorporating Indian oil painting into traditional Chinese painting left a deep impression on me. I was delighted to see many quality and thoughtful artists at this exhibition, and I gained a lot from it.”