Graffiti in Hong Kong

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Section of a mural of tong lau on Graham Street by Alex Croft[1]

In Hong Kong there are a few types of graffiti that are utilized for different reasons. The face of artist Ai Weiwei is one of the more well-known caricatures in the region. Journalist and commentators have considered the graffiti as "street-art", "creative" and the "voice of the young".[2]

Graffiti is often a mode of expression much like other artistic outlets. It can allow artists to vent emotions as well as their opinions on the politics or society around them. Unlike other places around the world, Graffiti in Hong Kong can be used as a way of advertisement for some companies.

Similar to other countries however, graffiti is considered defacing public property and is technically an illegal act in Hong Kong. While graffiti is not prosecuted as commonly as in the United States, fines and arrest still do occur.[3]

Definition of graffiti

Graffiti is a term applied to a range of illegally created marks in which there has been an attempt to establish some sort of coherent composition that people could resonate with, or one that conveys messages. Such marks are made by an individual or individuals, who might not be professional artists, upon a wall or other surface that is usually visually accessible to the public.

Different styles of graffiti in Hong Kong

Calligraphy graffiti

aesthetic value of his works of art stirred up much controversy over Hong Kong. Still, most Hong Kong citizens still pay respect and attention to his graffiti, even though he died in 2007.[4]

Spray painted graffiti

Spray painting graffiti is one of the most popular styles adopted by graffiti artists. Hong Kong graffiti artists have a unique sense on where to do graffiti to reflect different aesthetic feelings of their works. For instance,

stone
walls gives a strong dimensional sense.

Ai Weiwei's portrait

Chinese government. Ai's portrait was even projected on Wall of the People's Liberation Army building via laser.[5]

Government response

Mong Kok's Graffiti Wall of Fame in 2016.
Mong Kok's Graffiti Wall of Fame in 2016.

Per

Tin Hau also produced by Invader was removed for safety reasons. Such actions have stirred up much disagreement. The public did not agree that tile mosaics on walls would cause any harm and danger to society. Some news articles and journals criticised the government for their actions towards street art
. However, the government continued to take down Invader's work.

Though

wall of fame in Mong Kok, in an alleyway linked to Argyle Street, provides a canvas for Hong Kong graffiti artists.[6]
The government seems to have accepted the street as a "graffiti community" even though street artists are violating the law. Paintings extend over the wall for two blocks.

Purposes of doing graffiti in Hong Kong

Graffiti in Hong Kong can be divided into three aspects — as an

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.

Emotional Outletting

Graffiti related to emotions can generally be seen in

express their personal emotions. Many people express their feelings through writing and talking. However, there are people who aren't good at oral or written communication. Instead, they are more comfortable with drawing and art
. Graffiti is an illegal street art, and some people are attracted to the exciting and rebellious feeling of doing illegal things in an attempt to voice their opinions.

Political dissatisfaction

  • Graffiti on the road (Mong Kok, HK)
    Graffiti on the road (Mong Kok, HK)
  • Graffiti on the road (Mong Kok, HK)
    Graffiti on the road (Mong Kok, HK)

Graffiti can also be used to voice

citizens through graffiti art in order to gain more support for universal suffrage. For example, protesters not only did chalk paint graffiti, but also created a mural made from thousands of Post-It notes with citizens' wishes written on each. Couplets with citizens' petitions were also hung on a footbridge
.

Graffiti can also be used cheaply as a medium to advertise in Hong Kong. It is quite common to see advertisements spray-painted on

street signs, and so on. Company names and contact data might be written or drawn in an attempt for publication purposes. Such graffiti can be commonly seen in traditional districts such as Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong
. It is a style of graffiti unique to Hong Kong.

References

  1. ^ DeWolf, Christopher (23 May 2019). "The Instagram Wall: Why Are Huge Crowds Flocking to See a Mural in Central?". Zolima CityMag. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. ISBN 978-1-317-26657-0
    .
  3. ^ Mock, Ray (17 July 2016). "I Went Bombing with Hong Kong's Biggest Graffiti Writers". Vice. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  4. ^ Sin, Ben; Westcott, Ben (5 June 2016). "Why graffiti has never taken off in oh-so-law-abiding Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Pro-Ai graffiti in Hong Kong sparks warning by Chinese army". Reuters. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Mongkok's Graffiti Wall of Fame!". Hong Kong Hustle. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Graffiti in Hong Kong.
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