Central 
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Central
- Starts : June 30th, 2023
- Ends: September 3rd, 2023
Hong Kong has always been known for its unique and vibrant visual identity, and now there’s a new exhibition in town that’s celebrating just that. Tai Kwun, in partnership with Tetra Neon Exchange, proudly presents Vital Signs, an exhibition that showcases the city’s iconic neon heritage through contemporary artisans.
From June 30 to September 3, visitors can experience the artistry and craftsmanship of Hong Kong’s neon masters up close and personal. The exhibition features over 20 neon signs, some of which have been conserved and recommissioned by Tetra Neon Exchange and are on public display for the first time. The neon tour continues at Laundry Steps, transformed into a riotous electrified streetscape crowned by another cluster of five authentic and original Hong Kong neon signs.
“Vital Signs, while being a joyous celebration of this vivid and unmistakable look, also pauses to reflect on how much of this radiant past has been lost,” said Timothy Calnin, Director of Tai Kwun Arts. “We hope that Vital Signs reveals a living visual medium rather than a sunset industry and that our nostalgia for neon finds new friends, fans, and exponents to preserve this wondrous legacy and lead it in new directions.”
But the exhibition is just the beginning. Tai Kwun is also hosting a series of public programs, including workshops, talks, screenings, and tours, designed to immerse visitors in the unique cultural heritage of Hong Kong’s neon industry. And to further promote the art of neon and support Hong Kong’s neon industry, an open call called Neon Connection is inviting local artists, designers, and architects to conceive their own large-scale public sculptures using the medium of neon, to create a visual thread that links Tai Kwun’s buzzing Parade Ground with the more introspective Prison Yard, via Tai Kwun Lane.
So if you’re looking for an exciting and nostalgic way to experience Hong Kong’s unique visual culture, make sure to visit Vital Signs at Tai Kwun.
Where? Block 01 Duplex Studio & Laundry Steps, Tai Kwun, Central
When? 30 June–3 September 2023
Time? 12 pm–8 pm
