Open Call: Tai Kwun Neon Connection

Open Call: Tai Kwun Neon Connection

Tai Kwun Conversations: Vital Signs Series

Neon Metropolis Workshop

Vital Signs

Neon Walk

Neon Insiders

Date & Time

9 Aug 2023 - 24 Jan 2024

Price

Free of charge

General

Supported by

As Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage and Arts, Tai Kwun is committed to making a broad and appealing programme of visual arts, heritage and performing arts available and fully accessible to the people of Hong Kong, to ignite curiosity and encourage exploration.

Tai Kwun encompasses two large open spaces – the peaceful and introspective Prison Yard and the vibrant and welcoming Parade Ground. Linking the two is the Tai Kwun Lane - a direct pedestrian passageway rising through the Barrack Block (Block 03) over a link bridge, through two cell blocks and up a flight of stairs ending at the front door of JC Contemporary.

Inspired by the enthusiastic public response to our recent exhibition Vital Signs, which celebrated Hong Kong’s unique neon culture in the second half of the 20th Century, Tai Kwun Culture and Arts Company Limited ("Tai Kwun Arts") has welcomed Hong Kong creative talents to submit proposals of public sculptures using the medium of neon lights to the Open Call: Tai Kwun Neon Connection. Whilst illuminating Tai Kwun Lane and creating a visual guide which intrigues visitors in the Parade Ground to explore the Prison Yard and vice versa, the sculpture should also draw the visitors deeper into the Tai Kwun experience.

Impressed by the tremendous creativity and boldness demonstrated in the proposal Memoir in Neon, together with its respect to Tai Kwun's authentic heritage value, the judging panel, comprising experts in the fields of design, architecture, heritage conservation, neon science, contemporary art and engineering has selected YARD Architecture Studio's proposal as the winning concept out of the 24 entries received.

The installation will come to life and be open to public in late January 2024. Stay tuned for the Neon Connection.


Open Call Results

Winning proposal

Memoir in Neon
YARD Architecture Studio

Shortlisted proposals (Ranking in no particular order)

Duet of Light
Yushan Chen & Tam Wing Huen

COPmic Strip
Jonathan Wong & Sandy Ling

Neon Rainbow
Wataru Shinji & Lily Zhang, Marco Hei Yeung, Parco Pak Lun Law, Tony Ho Yin Tsui

Jat 1 pit3 jat1 dim2
Tsang Siu Hei, Damon

Neon through the looking glass
Studio of SAI (Yung Sai Chun, Hung Wai Yin, Yuen Sai Kit, Wai Shiu Chun)