Kowloon Park unique sculptures the best feature of this oasis
Kowloon Park sculpture walk opportunity to see and admire art
Nothing, Bronze, Lau Yau-Kuen
Kowloon Park Sculpture Walk
There are multiple reasons to visit Kowloon Park. It provides space to interact with others, to exercise or enjoy picnics, a place to explore the hedge maze and view exotic birds, or simply a place to explore the sights, sounds and smells of the groomed lakes, paths, flowers and trees.
Kowloon Park
I recently discovered this park hid an unassuming collection of sculptures. I revisited with the intent to explore the park fully.
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In the southeast corner of the park is the Sculpture Walk, currently consisting of artworks made of steel, marble, bronze and granite.
Pool Pavilion, Stainless steel tube, David Watkins
Sheltered under old trees, nestled in alcoves and surrounded by comfortable benches, these sculptures offer an opportunity for stimulating art appreciation and lively conversation.
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Most all societies value art. It helps us to recognise patterns, examine ideas from a different perspective and impose meaning on a complex world.
Kowloon Park Sculpture Walk
I do not know what inspired Slamet Witjaksono to sculpt what seems to be dualling giant meat cleavers with wrinkles and then name it Yin Yang.
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In what ways is this sculpture the same as the traditional concept of yin-yang? In what ways do they differ?
Yin Yang, Steel, Slamet Witjaksono
The plaques below each of these sculptures provide the artist’s name, the title and the material. It does not mention the date they were completed. Many are enigmatic.
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While some give visual clues as to what meaning they may be trying to convey, with others, there seems to be little to associate it with something found in the material work.
Visitors are free to propose their own interpretation of these artworks
So viewers are free to propose their own interpretation on what these artworks are communicating.
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Cheung Yee is a 1958 graduate of the Fine Arts Department of Taiwan Normal University. He was one of the first Hong Kong based artists to merge modern methods of sculpting with the ancient Chinese ideology of Yijing (a.k.a. I Ching).
Crab, Bronze, Cheung Yee
Some of his most thought-provoking creations are his crab sculptures. Crab is a three-metre-tall, sharp edged, six-legged mechanical monster that likely omits a siren call to children who like to climb. The artist intended for people to touch it, and in this park, there is no barrier.
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Cheung Yee had a life-long fascination with Chinese philosophy, archaeology, primitive art, folklore and fertility symbols, each of which makes a worthy starting point to discuss his work.
Budding, Bronze, Chu Kai Man
Chu Kai Man’s bronze sculpture Budding is a gigantic representation of a sprouting bean. This represents fertility, new life and the natural life cycle.
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The robust material used to produce this sculpture, bronze, guarantees that it will outlive both the artist and the viewer.
Robust sculptures guarantees it will outlive the artist and the viewer
This elicits thoughts about the fleetingness of life and ultimately the questions related to our own mortality.
The Gates of Youth, Bronze, Stainless steel, Aries Lee
Aries Lee’s sculpture Convention, rests in front of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and others are at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
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Lee’s work is abstract and open to broad interpretation. He frequently juxtaposes sharp edges with organic shapes.
While photographing The Gates of Youth, I circled it several times and realized that my reflection became part of the artwork. I wondered if the scratch marks on the surface were made by the artist or the result of something else, like vandalism.
The Gates of Youth (detail), Bronze, Stainless steel, Aries Lee
The organic brown section looked pristine and undamaged, while the silver polished surface was marred with aggressive diagonal strokes. This duality seemed to suit the title of the piece, The Gates of Youth.
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Time naturally changes outward appearances, something that is difficult to portray in a static sculpture.
Growing Shell, Cast bronze, Eva Drewett
Eva Drewett’s Growing Shell manages to convey the continual march of time with a series of shells that sheds like a snake’s skin.
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But it also elicits questions like: What causes the surface changes as the shell grows? Does the appearance of age indicate maturity?
Artist Chu Tat Shing moved to Hong Kong in 1984. Since then, he has produced many commemorative commissions.
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These include the five-metre-tall bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, the 3.5-metre-tall full body statue of Bruce Lee at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the bust of Sir Catchick Paul Chater on the ground floor of the Landmark Chater in Central Hong Kong.
The Dance of Heaven and Earth, Bronze, Chu Tat Shing
Chu’s The Dance of Heaven and Earth is recognisable as two individuals dancing. The title elevates the meaning of the sculpture to a cosmic level and is a reflection of the tightly bound eternal connection between earth and heaven.
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Hong Kong native Antonio Mak Yin-yeung’s sculptures visually depict outward appearance and inward struggle.
Torso, Bronze, Mak Hin Yeung, Antonio
One possible interpretation of Mak’s sculpture Torso is that this façade or sheath-like skin can hide an imperfect man.
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Alternatively, it may represent the hollowness one may feel and our struggle to break free from time to time.
This park provides an open air gallery for the public
Shell by Wu Man Wai is beautiful and elegant. The white marble is smooth to the touch, and the imperfections in the marble provide its character and visual interest.
Shell, Marble, Wu Man Wai
It is in the shape of a giant seashell, but its form is unfamiliar, and its size could envelop a whole human.
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It is a perplexing sculpture and makes one wonder what inspired the artist to create a form like Shell. And what is its story?
Tong King-sum was a designer in the Information Services Department who took evening art courses at the Chinese University’s extramural department.
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It was there that he came under the tutelage of Cheung Yee in 1971. Tong is most famous for his figurative torsos carved in teak. However, in his sculpture Shoots, he creates a work of made of granite.
Shoots, Granite, Tong King Sum
Shoots is an allegorical representation of new beginnings. Three new embryonic plants emerge from the ground to show new growth.
The concept is simple. The scale makes it monumental. The composition of three shoots springing forth evokes a sense of springtime.
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The artwork is complete when the viewer contributes their own individual interpretation of the sculpture.
Comic Characters
Of course, if your mind wonders from high art, just a short walk north of Sculpture Walk is Comic Alley, were you can photograph yourself with thirty coloured models of your favourite local comic book characters including Old Master Q and McDull.
Old Master Q
This exhibit of 1.8 to 3-meters characters went up in 2016 and has been well maintained since. If you have kids, try the Maze Garden or visit the flamingos and other exotic birds on display.
Flamingoes at Kowloon Park
Kowloon Park is a treasure, as are the sculptures therein. It offers the rare opportunity to see, feel and leisurely admire art that prompts conversation and helps us explore ideas from a different perspective.
Kowloon Park Maze Garden
As the weather cools, consider Kowloon Park Sculpture Walk for a much needed break in the outdoors and for your next family excursion.
Text Martin Wray / Photos Martin Wray & Werner Schulz
