Latest news with #HKwalls
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong is launching 9 ‘hotspot projects' to boost tourism. So what are they?
Hong Kong authorities have announced plans to entice more visitors through a series of 'hotspot projects' set to offer tourists in-depth travel experiences that go beyond traditional tourist pastimes such as shopping and sightseeing. The push is being led by the government's Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots and comprises nine projects across the city, with a focus on offering visitors unique insights into the city's culture, heritage and natural beauty. The Post looks at everything authorities have shared so far about their new strategy to meet the evolving needs of tourists and boost the local economy. 1. What are the cultural projects? Hong Kong's tourism push will include enhancements to the 'world's longest outdoor covered escalator' in Central, which goes from Queen's Road Central to Conduit Road and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of this year. The upgrades will see the addition of 'artistic elements', including wall art created in collaboration with annual street art and mural festival HKwalls and signs with interactive 'IT elements'. The government hopes to develop an in-depth tourism itinerary that brings together arts and culture, historical architecture, culinary delights and bar culture under its 'Old Town Central' banner. Authorities said they chose the district for the tourism push because it was the city's first developed area and commercial centre.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why brands and businesses are embracing street art culture in Hong Kong
Take a stroll around the streets of Hong Kong a couple of decades ago and the amount of street art you'd have seen would be close to zero. A smattering of graffiti, yes, but almost no walls where businesses had commissioned artworks for commercial purposes. Advertisement Today, the situation couldn't be more different. Hong Kong is covered in street art of all descriptions, with hotspots from SoHo and Sheung Wan – including perhaps most Insta-famous of all, artist Alex Croft's Graham Street mural for homeware store GOD – to Sai Ying Pun's ArtLane, to Wong Chuk Hang and large parts of Kowloon, especially Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok's Public Square Street. Essentially, it's everywhere. Street art has its roots in graffiti, an inherently rebellious art form whose practitioners by definition don't ask for permission, making much of it technically illegal. However, it has long been co-opted for commercial purposes; pretty early on, savvy brands realised that it was something they could use to gain instant countercultural cachet, while the hip-hop culture that produced graffiti has always balanced an emphasis on underground authenticity with a keen awareness of commercial possibilities. Street art has its roots in graffiti. Photo: K. Y. Cheng Consequently, today the term 'street art' covers everything from purely creative graffiti to work paid for by large corporations, and its practitioners similarly come from a diversity of backgrounds – from those who started with tags and spray cans, to those who trained at fine art academies and interiors ateliers. For marketers, it's a particularly effective way of standing out from the crowd, given the diminishing effectiveness of many traditional channels. In Hong Kong, the F&B industry has been a particularly enthusiastic adopter. Says Malique Goldin, head of partnerships at Black Sheep Restaurants, which adorns spaces like the wall of its Central Vietnamese bar Chom Chom with murals: 'We are storytellers and there are many ways to tell our stories; it's another canvas to express who we are. It's also a good creative outlet. It can be funky, it can be fun. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be us.' Partly brands have embraced street art so enthusiastically because of a cultural shift, with the rise of the star graffiti writer, exemplified by Banksy , legitimising the art form and giving it a kind of mainstream acceptability. It's also very photo-friendly, with social media playing a huge role in its growing popularity, while non-profit organisation HKwalls, which works tirelessly to put artists together with companies that can provide them with a wall to work on, has been pivotal in giving it a kick-start in the city. Cultural shifts have encouraged brands to embrace street art. Photo: Handout 'Since 2016 or 2017, with HKwalls and social media, there have been more people wanting to get into the street art scene,' says artist Kristopher Ho, whose spectacular, hyper-detailed animal illustrations crop up all over the city, including as part of HKwalls. 'It pays better: if I'm going to paint something large, I'm going to get paid more. But just because you know how to paint on a piece of paper, it doesn't mean you know how to paint on walls. The scene is definitely more vibrant now, but it's hard to maintain the quality.'
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Celebrating a decade of outdoor expression: how HKwalls transformed Hong Kong's streets
Celebrating 10 years of street art in Hong Kong , HKwalls has once again transformed Central and the Western district into a vibrant outdoor canvas, this time until March 30. With murals and digital artworks that capture the dynamic spirit of urban creativity, PMQ serves as this year's festival headquarters, offering a nucleus of exhibitions, workshops, guided tours and special events designed to engage both the community and visitors. Advertisement By its very nature, street art is an inclusive medium that transcends traditional barriers to access and appreciation. It exists in public spaces, inviting everyone – regardless of background or socioeconomic status – to engage with the artwork. This accessibility fosters a sense of community and allows artists to connect directly with their audience, creating dialogues that are often absent from conventional gallery settings. HKwalls' murals and digital artworks capture the essence of urban creativity. Photo: Handout HKwalls embodies this ethos with a brand-new initiative, HKwalls Rooms – a pop-up offering independent galleries and emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their work alongside that of renowned muralists. 'As we mark our 10th anniversary, HKwalls continues to celebrate creativity, originality and artistic expression, while making street art accessible to all,' says Maria Wong, the organisation's managing director. This initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers typically associated with art fairs, allowing more participants to engage in the city's vibrant arts scene. Continuing the theme of community engagement, the main courtyard of PMQ is hosting live painting events and interactive activities, with self-taught Italian artist El Rughi inviting visitors to play his eight by eight-metre board game inspired by vintage Chinese Happy Chess. El Rughi's giant board game, inspired by Chinese Happy Chess, is at PMQ until the end of the HKwalls Festival. Photo: Handout This year's line-up includes a diverse array of talent from around the globe, with artists such as Hopare, whose large-scale installation Indigo Memories adorns PMQ's facade, featuring portraits of former residents. Other notable artists include Hong Kong's own Ange McCalmont, Emerico, Erin Hung and DD Yung, as well as emerging talent from mainland China, Europe and beyond.
South China Morning Post
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
HKwalls 2025: what not to miss at Hong Kong's street art festival
Hong Kong's annual street art festival HKwalls has returned for its 10th edition, marking a decade of celebrating the colours and paintings that adorn the city's urban landscape. Advertisement The Post explores what to look out for this year, including the slate of international artists showcasing their works and their creative processes. 1. What is the HKwalls festival? HKwalls is a nine-day festival taking place from March 22 to 30. Central's PMQ is acting as a hub for event, while murals and digital artworks enliven the Central and Western district. 'Our vision is to create opportunities for local and international artists to showcase their talent … through the mediums of street art and street culture,' said Maria Wong, managing director of HKwalls. 2. What is HKwalls' cultural significance? HKwalls aims to act as a catalyst for recognising and elevating street art, while fostering the exchange of ideas through the invitation of international artists.
