Wildly popular in the US, ComplexCon has arrived in Hong Kong in its first-ever international edition. But what is ComplexCon and what does its showcase mean for the city in the aftermath of pandemic years where this little hub in east Asia has allegedly lost out on its commercial status vis-a-vis its neighbours?

ComplexCon is a festival and exhibition that brings together pop culture, music, art, food, sports, innovation, and education. Those attending the event “will be able to shop hundreds of exclusive releases from the most sought-after brands, watch inspiring talks from the most influential minds in our culture, and experience the future through the most immersive and ambitious pop culture experience yet”.

ComplexCon Hong Kong wrapped up its inaugural Asia edition at AsiaWorld-Expo, which ran from March 22 to March 24, 2024. This government-funded three-day event was the first time the festival has taken place outside the US since its inauguration in 2016. In its debut last week, the festival attracted over 30,000 local and international visitors, bringing an enriching and electrifying cultural experience.

Adrian Cheng who is chairman of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund Committee says, “The international pop culture event ComplexCon finally made its Hong Kong debut and was a remarkable success. […] This not only reflects the positive economic impact mega cultural events can bring to our city, but also helps promote our city’s image as The Premier Hub for Mega Events.”

The festival-exhibition provides shopping experiences to visitors, panel talks and concerts, including performances from Korean-American rapper pH-1 (who is featured in #legend’s digital cover this month) and other renowned artists.

The first-ever ComplexCon Hong Kong made the following records with the support of global visitors and partners:

• Over 30,000 local and international visitors attended ComplexCon Hong Kong, amongst which 45 per cent were from Hong Kong and 55 per cent were tourists from mainland China, the US, Japan, Singapore, Korea and more.
  
• Exclusive drops and ComplexCon-only products sold out quickly across several exhibitors; Verdy- designed official ComplexCon merchandise especially popular causing queues of up to three hours
  
• The festival showcased the latest collections and works from over 100 brands, 30 performing artists and 200 creators and artists, setting trends and making waves around the world.
  
• 18 food and beverage partners participated in the Complex Food Festival to provide a world-class culinary experience in the festival.

“The overwhelming response from the community to this first edition of ComplexCon in Asia demonstrates the power and draw of youth culture; specifically, its ability to unify, inspire and stimulate economic development,” says Bonnie Chan-Woo, CEO and founder of Complex China and the organiser of ComplexCon Hong Kong.

“We have curated with cross-cultural expertise a programme that features the world’s most influential and trending creators and brands, and also includes the tremendous creative talent from across the region as well as locally.”

Also see: Asia’s share of the global art market rises