Organised by the Tourism Commission, the Design District Hong Kong project – hashtagged #ddHK – is aimed at drawing out the unique characteristics of local neighbourhoods in the city through an emphasis on design elements.
This year, Tsuen Wan is in the spotlight, under the theme Vivid Tsuen Wan. Seven time-limited public art installations, tailor-made for the town, have been set up in various public locations, forming a walking route that takes visitors on an adventure through the area.
“We think Tsuen Wan has a lot of potential to become an emerging tourist spot,” said #ddHK Vivid Tusen Wan Project Manager Iris Ip. “It is easily accessible through the MTR or buses. It also has a lot of attractive offerings.”
Diverse artworks
Prismatic, designed by art duo Craig & Karl, is located at the Sai Lau Kok Garden. Their eye-catching design encapsulates the multitude of characteristics associated with Tsuen Wan, and the designers have stressed that they want visitors to interact with the installation’s large, colourful blocks, as they believe such exploration is the purpose of public art.
Just as colourful is Japanese textile designer Masaru Suzuki’s Closely Knitted. Installed on Tai Ho Road Footbridge, Suzuki’s work highlights both the reputation of Tsuen Wan as the “City of Footbridges” and its historical significance as a textile hub.
Inspired by the town’s harbour setting, meanwhile, Ocean Friends – designed by American artist Andy Rementer – transforms Tsuen Wan Park into a maritime-themed sculpture park. Surrounded by various ocean companions, the centerpiece of the work is a 15-metre-long whale, and visitors can watch out for intermittent blows of water from the top of its head!
Echoing another aspect of local life and exuding a sense of warmth and comfort, Homeward Bound reinterprets the daily lives of commuters leaving and returning home each day along the neighborhood’s network of bridges. Local designer Kila Cheung has dispersed twinkling figures, symbolising local residents, around a central sculpture at Tsuen Wan Town Hall Plaza.
Wavy Cycler, meanwhile, is the creation of KaCaMa Design Lab, whose philosophy is that happiness can be found in simplicity and is always within reach. Visitors are invited to sit on the installation’s colourful bicycles and inflate overhead balloons simply by pedalling.
Local flavours
Tsuen Wan: Into the Landscape consists of three large murals that capture the natural beauty of Tai Mo Shan, allowing visitors to Hoi Shing Garden a glimpse of the mountain’s biodiversity. Designed by Seika Studio, the murals incorporate traditional Chinese painting elements such as the “Simao” brushwork technique into imagery generated using computer graphics.
Elsewhere, Katol Lo’s Silver Age turns Tai Chung Road Footbridge into something of an artistic time tunnel. The artist’s unique blend of font design and street art creates an immersive experience that offers a subtle juxtaposition of cutting-edge art style and historical information.
These seven art installations have been carefully crafted to harmonise with specific locations, and together they form a travel route that also acts as a short tour of the town. Along the way, visitors can also explore other cultural and creative attractions. The project runs from 18 August to 14 September. Themed tours and other activities are available throughout the period.
