“RECREATED CLASSICS: The Music Golden Age in Sound and Frame” Exhibition
HKDI / FID, Hong Kong
Hong Kong;3 October, 2025 - Organised by the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), in collaboration with the audio pioneer inheriting a century of sound artistry Bang & Olufsen (B&O) and the Hong Kong Institute of Professional Photographers (HKIPP), the exhibition “RECREATED CLASSICS: The Music Golden Age in Sound and Frame” will officially open from 3rd October to 12th November at the HKDI Experience Centre. Spanning the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, this exhibition showcases original copies of the film images and walks you through stories behind the creation of iconic album covers from the charismatic and legendary pop stars such as Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, and the “Four Heavenly Kings.” With B&O’s century of acoustic craftsmanship, these classics are revived through immersive sound, alongside fresh interpretations from the new generation, crafting a nostalgic journey where sound and vision intertwine.
The Golden Era of Pop Music Through the Lens
The exhibition brings together rare original works by five renowned photographers, Jonny Koo, Sam Wong, Cheung Man Wah, Cambo Wong, and Franklin Lau, who stand as pillars of Hong Kong’s photography scene across the 80s to the 2000s. Having witnessed the golden age of Cantopop, they captured countless iconic moments of music legends through their lenses: from the pioneering presence of Sam Hui to the electrifying stage aura of Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, as well as the youthful rise and peak of the “Four Heavenly Kings” - Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, and Leon Lai, and the distinctive styles of Faye Wong, Ekin Cheng, Sammi Cheng, Twins and Fiona Sit. Through master application of lighting, composition, styling, and set design, these photographers helped shape the iconic images of pop icons. Their work became a mirror of each era’s evolving aesthetic trends, from the fashionable elegance of the 1980s, to the expressive boldness of the 1990s, and the digital creativity of the 2000s.
Featuring not only rare original album cover drafts, but also unique copy of film production materials, including Polaroid test shots, slides, and print proofs, the occasion allows visitors to experience the warmth and creative process of analogue photography, while the visible grain and imperfections evoke the romance of the film era. As participating photographer Cheung Man Wah eloquently puts it, “Every beam of light in film carries a unique spontaneity. These works are not just ‘photographs,’ they are the frozen and captured sound of an era.”
An Immersive Experience Through a Century of B&O Sound and the Iconic Melodies
To mark the centennial of B&O, the pioneering brand that seamlessly blends classic design aesthetics with acoustic artistry, the brand is showcasing a curated selection of its iconic audio equipment from across the decades, inviting visitors on a time-traveling audiovisual journey. These devices each bear witness to the evolution of music - from analogue to digital and now streaming. Resonating with the spirit of every era, they seamlessly fuse image and sound, preserving both the warmth of its time and the auditory memories it carries.
At the exhibition, B&O’s classic systems are far more than playback devices, as they embody the brand’s century-long craftsmanship and commitment to longevity. They reflect the transformation of music formats from analog to digital and into the streaming age. This chapter of history begins with the original version of the Beogram 3000 turntable from the 1980s, moving on to the Beosound 3000 CD player, then to the brand’s first MP3 player, the Beosound 2, and finally the Beosound 5, created in response to the surging demand for digital music. These cross-generational audio products each embody a unique pursuit of acoustic aesthetics reflective of their era.
In recent years, B&O has also brought to us the “Recreated Classics” collection, restoring classic models with modern enhancements and extending the product lifespan including Jacob Jensen’s iconic Beogram 4000 turntable from the 1970s and the Beosound 9000 designed by David Lewis in the 90s. The design philosophy behind these exhibits is rooted in groundbreaking creativity, elevating the tangible media into sculptural works of art, rekindling the romance of the physical music era.
At the exhibition, the “Sound & Frame” zone will allow visitors to listen to era-defining hits through B&O headphones while admiring visuals of corresponding album covers. It acts as time machine, reviving familiar melodies with pure, immersive sound, creating a multisensory experience that seamlessly synchronise visual and sound, awakening a collective resonance that transcends time.
Legacy and Innovation: A Creative Relay by HKDI’s New Generation
With a vision rooted in heritage and transformation, HKDI’s Department of Fashion and Image Design has featured a dedicated showcase of student’s creative works presented alongside masterpieces by industry veterans. In support of the design community and emerging local talent, B&O has sponsored the “Recreated Classics – Album Cover” competition, inviting students from the department to reinterpret classic album covers from different eras using contemporary design language. Additionally, HKDI’s “V music” will also bring youthful voices into the exhibition, sparking a sonic-visual dialogue between “old lenses” and “new perspectives”.
This exhibition is not only a feast of photography, but also a collective retrospective on Hong Kong’s pop music culture. From the cinematic glow of film to the sonic waves of audio, from the lens of legends to the creativity of the new generation, it awakens a "music memory" in each of us. This is where classic meets innovation to compose a future of endless potential for Hong Kong culture.
Exhibition Details• Dates: 3 October – 12 November 2025. Open daily from 09:00 to 19:00
• Venue: HKDI Experience Center, Room C002, Hong Kong Design Institute
• Admission: Free