OUTDOOR PUBLIC ART

OBSERVATION: Apart from a minority of well-designed environments within the urban areas, much of Hong Kong has a disappointing amount of public art.

SOLUTION: Provide stimulus for the city to embark on a public art campaign to create a built environment that inspires both residents and visitors.

Outdoor public art is a key ingredient in any well-designed aspect of the built environment throughout the world — whether it is a small outdoor residential plaza, a secret graffiti-filled alley, or major civic space located within the heart of the city. Some of Hong Kong’s property developers have done an admirable job of incorporating public art into their developments, and the MTR and other public entities continue to inspire through an ever-expanding program of public art. Can we keep the ball rolling?

A piece to experience and ponder at the MTR’s Sai Ying Pun station.
An exquisite sculpture of a traditional Chinese fisherman in a rarely-visited corner of Sai Ying Pun that instills a “sense of place” for visitors.
This sculpture of a dog at a residential area is a big hit with young children intuitively “taking it for a ride”.

Can outdoor public art throughout Hong Kong be increased through new Government initiatives?

Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

  • Create an aggressive public art campaign to beautify the far corners of Hong Kong and to inspire visitors and residents.
  • Apply the 80/20 rule, requiring 80% of outdoor public artwork to be commissioned by locally-based artists, with the remaining 20% by international artists. Why commission an artist in Frankfurt, pay for travel expenses, insurance and shipping, when Hong Kong has an incredible pool of talent in its own back yard?
  • Nurture Hong Kong’s aspiring artists, art schools and creative industries. How many disillusioned youth — who feel like they have no place in society — could be inspired through new creative careers and public recognition of their contributions to the city?
  • Could there be increased numbers of public art competitions to stimulate the creativity of individual and teams of local artists?
  • Could the permitted use of the city’s industrial buildings be amended to encourage artistic activities?
  • Could entire districts of Hong Kong become hotbeds of tasteful architectural graffiti?

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

Thomas Merton

Hong Kong needs to be re-invented. Perhaps it’s time for Hong Kong to get lost in order to find itself again?