Hong Kong Street Art colorful feast best of 2023
Outdoor mural creation brings life to Hong Kong Street Art
Elsa Jean de Dieu – Uma Nota, 47 Peel Street, Central
Hong Kong Street Art origins
Hong Kong street art has some antecedents in western cultures. Deeply rooted in subcultures of the anti-government bodies from New York and Philadelphia, anonymous artists graffitied in public spaces, frequently tackling social or political issues.
Lauren YS, Rich View Terrace (B), Kui In Fong, Tai Ping Shan
It started with writings or letter-based designs that succinctly stated direct messages. Later, it became dominated by graphic symbols and logos, eventually evolving into conceptual compositions.
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As time passed, with the further influence of hip-hop and punk culture and acclaimed artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy making it into the spotlight, street art was no longer mistaken for vandalism.
Lauren YS, Rich Finished Mural at View Terrace (B), Kui In Fong, Tai Ping Shan
Today, street art is an inclusive term incorporating graffiti, wall murals, public sculptures, and even street performances.
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This is the exact impression HKwalls tries to convey. It has been nine years since co-founders Jason Dembski, Maria Wong and partner Stan Wu embarked on a journey to showcase regional and international talents through street art and street culture.
Kristopher Ho – Chak’s Company, Shing Wong Street, Central
Through their annual festival, they are propitiously transforming Hong Kong into a welcoming city that embraces all genres of the art form.
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In March 2023, after a one-year pandemic-imposed hiatus, HKwalls Street Art Festival returned with an incredible line-up of artists and programmes.
Matthieu Koga (aka Kogaone), 8 Wa In Fong East (A), Central
In previous years, they focused on the locals and only hand-picked a few international artists. However, this is their first time trying a worldwide open call, with flights and accommodations fully covered.
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To their surprise, they received over 600 applications. The artists chosen are firstly based on the quality and aesthetics of their artworks.
Street art and graffiti is an art form
They are then carefully selected with a mixture of styles, including graffiti, illustration, and tattoo art, to demonstrate street art’s wide range of characteristics.
Vivian Ho – Shop C, 38-42 Eastern Street, Sai Ying Pun
Working without a theme, Dembski says he finds that artists work better without being confined to specific ideas. Instead, spontaneity is essential for making each piece suitable and site-specific to the environment.
Over the years, HKwalls has proved that mural art functions beyond beautifying a wall surface.
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Sometimes it is an effective method to visualise social and political campaigns; at other times, a mural can illustrate a message that appeals within a neighbourhood.
Jurne – Rich View Terrace (A), Square Street, Tai Ping Shan
Dembski thinks this creates a bond that draws communities together through shared values. In addition, the art attracts outsiders to places normally less visited, even if it’s just temporarily.
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Wong Chuk Hang, a former industrial area that in the 1980s housed over one thousand factories, is a perfect example.
Wong Chuk Hang the creative cultural hub
An MTR station opened in 2016, and galleries and artists have gradually moved in, turning the area into a cultural hub. HKwalls was one of the first artistic groups that recognised the area’s potential and hosted the 2017 edition of the festival there.
Innerfields – 8 Wa In Fong, East (B), Central
With the mission to bring street art to unexpected locations, this move was instrumental in transforming the area into the art district it is now.
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This is also why working with participating property owners is now more demanding. Dembski explained that now that owners have seen the favourable impact of mural art, they more vocally express their creative opinions.
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In the past, they trusted the artists and let them paint whatever they wanted without asking for a sketch.
However, a few owners backed out this year at the last minute because they could not reach a mutual agreement.
Marco Burresi (aka Zed1), Lascar Court, 3 Lok Ku Road, Tai Ping Shan
New walls are also getting scarce as they try to avoid painting over previous murals. And there persist those who continue to perceive street art as criminal vandalism.
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So, although the street art scene is generally more well-received, there are still challenges in organising each festival.
Mooncasket in progress, Craftissimo, 22-24 Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan
Street artists can now, with permission, express themselves and create freely under the sun. Yet most of them apprenticed under the radar of disapproving authority, so speed, secrecy and care have been almost encrypted in their DNA.
This was seen during a group exhibition organised by a renowned art foundation and HKwalls. The participating artists worked so fast that even the organiser’s staff didn’t have a chance to meet the artists.
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As galleries, institutions and foundations see the potential of bringing street art indoors and on smaller scales, we will hopefully see more events like this.
Mooncasket main view, Craftissimo, 22-24 Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan
Besides the usual mural paintings, HKwalls and the Sino Group collaborated with a large-scale digital art piece created by Spanish mixed-media artist J. Demsky.
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It is their first time working across media, converting a usually two-dimensional art form into an animation broadcasted onto two TST East harbour-facing building monitors. As requested, the sponsor generously supported the idea and willingly protected the artist’s identity.
Mooncasket side view, Craftissimo, 22-24 Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan
HKwalls started with limited resources in 2014, with the turnout and community response so successful that Vans began sponsoring the event in 2016.
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Chivas Regal joined as a sponsor this year. In addition, a few consulates supported individual artists from their countries to fly in for the March festival.
Funding encourages opportunities for collaboration
This funding encourages opportunities for new collaborations and commissioned works. Dembski thinks this is an excellent process for artists to become more sustainable, as artists “cannot eat the canvases”.
Marek Kulhavý (aka Mára Čmára), 13a New Street, Tai Ping Shan
He also believes this is an extra outlet for artists to express their creativity. Finally, and most importantly, a larger audience sees their works in public, as street art was initially intended.
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Dembski commented that street art is not meant for permanent preservation, as the art is exposed to the elements.
Yet it is a global phenomenon preserved in other ways. Its notion is an element of hip-hop music that expresses resistance.
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Graffiti designs are an essential component of street fashion and occasionally for luxury brands. Mural art tours are popular tourist attractions and are widely promoted. Street art has almost become its own genre.
However, giving it a specific label is still tricky, as it falls outside the conventions implicit within traditional arts.
Lauren YS – Rich View Terrace, Kui In Fong, Tai Ping Shan
For that reason, HKwalls is prominent in enlightening people on the roles of this specific artistic practice. Dembski remembered that graffiti used to be merely a “cool element”.
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They experimented with different types of workshops and initiated live art battles, quickly discovering an audience eager to witness the impromptu creation of graffiti art.
Panter13, Burger Joys, LG/F, 27-29 First Street, Sai Ying Pun
The graffiti movement has developed from an expression mechanism of the outcast to urban art to succeed pop art in reflecting the dynamics of postmodernism.
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Street art will continue to blur the meaning of “high art” and challenge the value of art in a non-institutional setting.
Lauren YS – Bridges Street, Tai Ping Shan
So, what are HKwalls’ follow-up plans? Dembski said that they are looking at possibilities offered by street sculptures.
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With the growing number of supporters and continuous rising appeal for street art, he foresees HKwalls’s projects getting bigger.
Text Shek Man / Photo Martin Wray
