EU Street Art meets Hong Kong brought five European artists to Hong Kong to meet local and international street artists and create colorful murals in the city’s buzziest Central and Western District. With a fun-packed programme of mural painting, workshops, guided tours, artist talks and an art battle, the artists from Italy, France, Czech Republic and Germany not only created eye-catching works, but also new networks.
Street art increases the aesthetic quality of often overlooked places in the city
While street art has long been a recognized part of the art scene in Europe, the ground has only been prepared for it in Hong Kong for a few years, thanks to the HKWalls Festival. This NGO works with a range of local partners to ensure that the murals can remain and become part of the cityscape. After all, murals in bright colors, often with a reference to the respective district, contribute to the quality of urban life by improving the aesthetic quality of often overlooked corners of the city.
EU Street Art meets Hong Kong became part of this concept, with artists coordinating their designs with local partners in advance. As a result, residents followed with interest the creation of the murals in their neighborhoods and got into conversation with the artists.
HKWALLS is proud and honoured to have the support of the EUNIC Cluster Fund and to be working with such great institutions and people. The artists that were able to join HKWALLS 2023 thanks to the EUNIC Cluster Fund really helped to elevate our festival and the street art in Hong Kong.
Jason Dembski Co-founder, HKWALLS (partner)
During the nine-day festival, EUNIC cluster Hong Kong and its partners organized numerous activities in which the European guests (Jakob Tory Bardou and Holger Weissflog - Innerfields (DE), Marco Burresi - Zed1 (IT), Matthieu Antignac - Koga One (FR), Marek Kvapil - Mára Čmára (CZ)) interacted with the local art scene: from workshops for art students to several artist talks. Other events reached in particular a young audience, like the opening event with an exhibition and a hip hop performance and the final Art Battle, or brought street art closer to a wider local audience, like the well-attended guided tours. The interaction on different levels was inspiring for all sides, and the media coverage exceeded all expectations. No wonder that plans for next year are already being made.
So great to have all the wonderful and fun street art under Hong Kong’s sky! It’s the most direct way to connect the general public with art. Wish for more to come!
Jacqueline Tong Participant
