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Press

2017-11-02

【Hong Kong Arts Centre】Comixtream in the City – Wan Chai

Wan Chai is the cradle of Hong Kong’s animation and comics (ani-com) industry, with many local ani-com artists started their career here. This autumn, the Hong Kong Arts Centre and Comix Home Base present Comixtream in the City – Wan Chai, a project that transforms the district’s public spaces into exciting ani-com encounters. Seven local veteran and upcoming ani-com artists collaborate to bring comics art to four distinctive locations, forming a comics cluster celebrating Wan Chai’s past, present and imagining its future, promoting Wan Chai as an ani-com landmark in Hong Kong.  The project lasts from November 2017 to July 2018.
 
Sponsored by Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the project is an accredited event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, as well as an event coinciding the 40th anniversary of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
 
Surrounding the now revitalised heritage Comix Home Base are five lampposts decorated by local designer and illustrator Bo Law, whose work features an old angler who is overlooking Wan Chai’s vibrant streets and waterfront to personify the tranquil neighbourhood of Sun Street, Moon Street and Star Street. North to them are the unique works of two other comics artists, Jerry Cho and Mandycat, who have transformed one of the interior walls and the entrance of Southorn Playgound into a comics showcase of Wan Chai’s street scenes and everyday life.
 
Along Gloucester Road, comics artists Justin Wong and Dolly Lee bring the area’s diverse cityscape – from the historical tramway and traditional teahouses to the modern architecture such as Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre – to the east entrance of the Revenue Tower. Six distinctive scenes of Wan Chai, connected by the tramway, are featured in the entrance to show the change of landscape from Wan Chai South to Wan Chai North.
 
On an exterior wall outside the building of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, local comics veterans Alice Mak and Keung Chi Kit envision a green “Wan Chai Hill” in their collaborative work. Their famous comics characters, McDull and Samba, are having a cheerful stroll in the Hill.
 
Comixtream in the City – Wan Chai, not only serves as a public platform for local comics artists to gain exposure to local and international audience, but also acts as a unique community and outreach project. A series of workshops will be held from November 2017 to July 2018 to engage diverse communities and strengthen the exchanges  among ani-com artists, different social groups and the general public, raising awareness of public art and bringing comics into the city’s daily lives.
  
Locations of public artwork:
1.      Comix Home Base (5 neighbouring lampposts)
2.      Southorn Playground (Entrance and one of the interior walls)
3.      Revenue Tower (East entrance on the Ground Floor)
4.      Hong Kong Arts Centre (Exterior wall facing Gloucester Road)

Details of workshops will be announced on the official website and the Facebook page of the Hong Kong Arts Centre in due course.
Co-Presenters: Hong Kong Arts Centre & Comix Home Base
Sponsor: Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Collaborator: Wan Chai District Council Cultural and Leisure Services Committee

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.