Hong Kong is a busy city famous for tall buildings and a strong economy. Besides being a financial hub, it is also an excellent place for art. The city becomes like a giant art exhibition during the Art Basel fair every March. People worldwide who love art come to see and buy artworks. But there is more to Hong Kong’s art than just expensive stuff in galleries. Walking beyond the fancy booths reveals the real soul of Hong Kong’s art: street art.
The HKWALLS Street, Art & Mural Festival shows how vibrant and lively Hong Kong’s street art scene is. Since 2014, this non-profit organization has been making the city’s walls colorful and creative. They bring local and international street artists together to paint the town (literally).
Maria Wong, who cares about street art, is the Managing Director of HKWALLS. She says street art is like the city’s fabric, a canvas for different voices and perspectives. Initially, they had to ask for walls and trade for paint. HKWALLS is a well-respected group that organizes a nine-day festival and activities throughout the year.
Maria Wong calls it the “can-do spirit,” which makes Hong Kong’s art scene unique. The team showed this spirit by quickly finding a wall for a Canadian artist when their supporter pulled out. Their mural became a favorite, symbolizing knowledge and supporting young minds. The spirit is also seen in a meaningful painting by a German art collective, showing a girl absorbed in her phone. It reminds us of the beauty we might miss when we are always looking at screens.
Over the past decade, Wong has seen a remarkable transformation. Local groups and international institutions increasingly recognize and support Hong Kong’s art, breaking the image that the city is only a commercial hub. Hong Kong is establishing itself as a regional hub for art and creativity, with initiatives like embracing digital art at the world’s first Web3 fine art fair and the M+ museum and the Palace Museum openings.
The government plays an essential part by transforming an old clubhouse into Oi!, a place for emerging artists and creative projects. If anyone likes art but feels lost, stress is unnecessary! HKWALLS has maps that guide you to fantastic places, such as Sham Shui Po, where young artists make the neighborhood lively with galleries, music venues, and impressive street art.
Sheung Wan, the recently hosted HKWALLS festival, offers a vibrant atmosphere with international dining, charming boutiques, and stunning murals by international and local artists. Local talents transformed Sai Kung, a seaside town, into an open-air art gallery. This place has artistic abstracts of Chinese characters by Wong Ting Fung and a calming whale mural by Bo Law. It adds a peaceful touch to the busy alleyway.
Hong Kong’s art scene started small, but now it is known worldwide, showing how creative the city is. Instead of just looking at tall buildings, it is advisable to take a day to explore the lesser-known places. It will find real experiences, talented people, and a city that is not only made of buildings but also colorful creativity.
