Of all the buildings in Hong Kong, the Space Museum is the only one that features as a beacon of hope in the protests. This building has always been my favourite, because of its instantly recognisable shape, but also because of what it contains. The world of wonder and possibility that the Space Museum presents and showcases blew my childhood mind. So it seems only fitting that the battle of the latest technologies takes place at its doorstep. To confuse the police’ facial recognition cameras, the protesters adopt laser pointers. When the police deems the laser pointers to be an ‘offensive weapon’, the Space Museum shell is chosen as the unofficial testing ground. The result is a spontaneous laser show that tells off the police in a celebratory way. It is cheeky, ironic and poignant, a combination very unique to Hong Kong. I have never seen the Space Museum more beautiful.
When I was small, I knew Lion Rock because of the tunnel. It is nothing special, but the approach leaves an impression every time. As the outline of a lion, perched on the top of a mountain, comes into focus, it radiates stateliness and calm. It looks over the city, guarding it at all hours. Over the years, Lion rock has become a prominent anchor. For the older generation, its foothills provided their new beginnings after the civil war. The squatter houses from that time have since been replaced with tall apartment buildings, but a hit TV series and its theme song from that era still endure. The lyrics that cemented the fighting and together spirit of Hong Kongers ring true to this day, despite the evolving political and economical circumstances. So it is only natural that protesters go up to Lion Rock on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, a day that is traditionally about family dinners with lanterns. Lighting up Lion rock during such a turbulent period speaks to the whole city, reminding us that Hong Kong will figure out a path to the future.
Studio Incendo
Studio Incendo
人生不免崎嶇 難以絕無掛慮 既是同舟 在獅子山下且共濟 拋棄區分求共對 It is inevitable for life to be rugged or have no worries at all Since we are in the same boat
at the foothills of Lion Rock living together Let’s forget our differences and work together
– from the song ‘ 獅子山下 ’ ‘At the foot of Lion Rock’
Hong Kong, add oil!
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on site review 36: our material future
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