Last year I was commissioned a project by TOWNPLACE SOHO to paint three separate murals for their newly established service apartment located in Central, Hong Kong. The murals aim to present its neighbourhood, while also presenting a different side of Hong Kong. Instead of using traditional local icons and elements, I decided to base my murals on the nearby Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden. Very often mural projects in Hong Kong focus a lot on traditional presentation of Hong Kong culture such as Star Ferry, neon signs and historical landmarks, which in my opinion has been heavily exploited. In order to bring a breath of fresh air into a rather conservative perception of the existing representation of Hong Kong and inspire the next generation of its residents, I decided to explore an alternative way to represent Hong Kong. Hong Kong is known to be a concrete jungle, while many have neglected the importance and beauty of the greenery surrounding the city. My murals are dedicated to the importance of nature and wildlife in the city and present a different side of Hong Kong, which is equally as attractive as its well known icons and landmarks.
Three murals were painted on site and three animals were selected as the core of the mural. Each presents a specific idea of how nature echoes the interior and usage of the space.
The Orangutan: Harmony –
One of the signature animals from Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden, the mural aims to deliver the idea of harmony. The orangutan reaches its arm to touch the plants gently, representing how we shall pay more attention to nature and how we should all respect and live with our nature in harmony.
