The Aesthetics of Neon Lights

Hong Kong

CLocalulture

THE THE THE

AESTHETICS AESTHETICS AESTHETICS

OF NEON LIGHTS OF NEON LIGHTS OF NEON LIGHTS

CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS

Our Team Our Team Our Team

RRecap Recap ecap

The community The community The community Preparation work Preparation work Preparation work

--materials -materials materials

--Souvenirs -Souvenirs Souvenirs

-Light painting demo -Light painting demo

-Light painting demo

About the workshop About the workshop About the workshop

--Video -Video Video

-Info Boards -Info Boards -Info Boards

-Design of the Co-work -Design of the Co-work -Design of the Co-work

Video (documentation)

Video (documentation)

Video (documentation)

Exhibition after the workshop Exhibition after the workshop Exhibition after the workshop

OObservations Observations bservations

FFeedback Feedback eedback

Artists Sharing Artists Sharing Artists Sharing

DDifficulties Difficulties ifficulties

RReflection Reflection eflection

OUR OUR OURTEAM-NEONKIDS TEAM-NEONKIDS TEAM-NEONKIDS

Sophia Kwan

Cleo Kwan

Curator

Jack Li

Photographer

Aimee Lau

Lorraine Wong

Marketing

Public Relations

Amber Research & Development Research & Development

RECAP RECAP RECAP

Aim

Main Focus: Aesthetic and Design of Neon Light

Problem Community Solution Goals

Hong Kong local culture

The dissapearance of neon lights

Gov. regulations, light pollution

Fewer neon light masters

Production (artistry) of neon lights vs aesthetic (design) of neon lights

Neon light masters

Neon light artists

HK young adults

Introduce neon lights in an accessible way to HK youth: IG page & light painting workshop

Educate them on the characteristics and design of HK neon lights

Create dialog with neon light artists

Engage HK youth with local neon light culture

Let HK youth understand and appreciate the aesthetics of local neon lights

Show that there are contemporary artists who continue to use neon lights.

THE COMMUNITY THE COMMUNITYTHE COMMUNITY NEON LIGHT NEON LIGHTNEON LIGHT

Young People of Hong Kong

Important part of HK visual culture

Can carry forward the appreciation and style of this culture

High appreciation can increase the value of this aspect of HK culture

Neon Light Artists

Keep the artistry of neon lights alive

Can engage HK youth through art

PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION

Materials

11 1

Torches (Different sizes and brightness)

2 2 2

Cellophane (Different colours)

The main theme of our project-Hong Kong culture

THE NEON THE NEONTHE NEON LIGHT DEMO LIGHT DEMOLIGHT DEMO

A body of work of the Light painting, the fading of the light symbolise the glory period of Hong Kong, which is also short-lived.

Contrasting colors are being used, Red and Green. The circle has the function of highlighting the words.

The neon light artwork

LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT PAINTING PAINTING PAINTING DEMO DEMO DEMO

The neon light located in Mong Kok

Limited number of neon light signage exit in HK

The demo photo is taken on the Temple Street, as we have saw the neon light of Park hotel, so we use it as a sample.

LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT PAINTING PAINTING PAINTING DEMO DEMO DEMO

A participant especailly likes our demos.

He said the execution of the ⾹港 (Hong Kong) picture is stunning, relating him to the neon lights from movies depicting Hong Kong 70-80s.

He especally pointed out that he likes the advertising sticker at the corner, "Even if the sticker itself reflect Hong Kong." he said.

His respond on sticky note

"Neon Light signs are the representation of the best times of Hong Kong and its culture which I am proud of and found it dazzling."

LIGHT PAINTING LIGHT PAINTINGLIGHT PAINTING WORKSHOP WORKSHOP WORKSHOP

Number of participant: 1-2

Time requirement: 30s

Part 1

Process:

Participants have to think what to draw or they Design the object on the whiteboard

We will provide 30s for participants to finish the artwork.

Part 2: A challange that given by us, participant are drawing some patterns provides by us randomly.

-Our collaboration work

THE SET UP THE SET UP THE SET UP

VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO

The Athetics of Neon Light

Video to welcome and introduce the context of neon lights (caligraphy, athetics) to the participants.

Played during the exhibition

VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO

Played during the exhibition

This participant (as shown in the middle) is an art student too, she told me that she was especially interested in the calligraphy of the neon lights sign showing in the video.

regular script (楷書)

official script (隸書)

on light signs

Colour Tone Structure Pattern

Bright Colour-->attractive

-red

-light green

-blue

-yellow

primary colors

projecting irregular projecting column projecting banner

Mainly combine simple lines and symbols

Iconic shape:

Bat and coin

Curve and small circles

moon and stars

DESIGNOFTHECO-WORK DESIGNOFTHECO-WORK DESIGNOFTHECO-WORK

Photo Collage Work

Idea: Combine the iconic elements together to create a representative cowork Elements:

-'Bat and Coin' frame

-Name of our Instagram page

-Hong Kong Baptist University

Participants needed:

-32 pieces (28 participants)

SOUVENIRS SOUVENIRS SOUVENIRS

Photograph

Each participant can created their own light painting photo (around 1-2 pieces)

Descriptions

-Creating this unique souvenir is one of the part of our workshop that participants can really get involved.

-Participants may create their own designs or patterns and use light painting method to present.

-Our aim:

1) create unique light painting photos for commemorate

2) some of the pattern they create will me hard to make a real neon light, so light painting may achieve almost the same effect

3) reminding the participants to capture the precious moment/cherish this disappearing culture

Steps

1) Think of what they want to draw

2) If the design was too complicated, they can draw on the whiteboard as a sketch to follow

3) We will immediately print out as a souvenir for the participants

SOUVENIRS SOUVENIRS SOUVENIRS

Examples of souvenirs that created by the participants

EXHIBITION EXHIBITION EXHIBITION AFTER AFTER AFTER WORKSHOP WORKSHOP WORKSHOP

What's the exhibition about ?

The Light Painting Demo

Artworks

The Co-work created during the workshop

Feedback Area

Aim: Show the Co-work outcome and get more feedbacks (Provide a chance for Participants to see what image they had created during the workshop, and collecting their reactions and feedbacks)

FFEEDBACKBOARD FEEDBACKBOARD EEDBACKBOARD

How did the participants feel afterwards? Did they learn something new? Did they gain appreciation for HK neon lights?

FFEEDBACKFEEDBACKEEDBACKAFTERTHEWORKSHOP AFTERTHEWORKSHOP AFTERTHEWORKSHOP

The information on the poster introducing the neon sign is very detailed. It seems to suggest that many people pass by and see the neon signs and ignore the details of them. For example, the neon sign is a one-shot making, different parts are connected using a black tap. I would like to pay attention to more neon artists and related works in the future.

The film is very attractive and perfectly shows that neon lights are an integral part of Hong Kong's prosperous night scene.

The light painting experience was amazing. It is my first time to understand the logic of it. I feel like everyone can create their own light photo even though not good at drawing. I have poor art sense and never think of participating in any art creation. It is surprising that I can involve in the light photography and being affirmed by others!

In the process of light paintings, we cant see what is painted, so we can only complete it with intuition, sense of space and confidence. In the process, we experence failure to success, and slowly master the skills to complete it. The biggest skil is to believe in yourself.

Sometimes the result may be different from what you magined, but t is precisey in this way that you will get unexpected results. I fee that I have broken through my imagnation.

Using light painting to bring out the neon culture is so smart, simple and refined. I feel that the younger generation may not know much about neon lights and may not be interested, but light painting is created by using technology today, using a trendy culture to arouse. People pay attention to the old culture, and at the same time achieve the effect of luminous beauty.

Light painting must be completed within a limited time. It is a race against time. The same is true for the preservation of neon lights. If no one mentions it or pays attention to it, it will be demolished for various reasons. Seize the time to raise everyone's attention to the neon light culture and treasure the neon light scene in Hong Kong.

OBSERVATIONS OBSERVATIONS OBSERVATIONS

How did the participants respond to our workshop + exhibition?

Participants enjoyed the mini-exhibition.

They particularly enjoyed making their light painting.

They were impressed that the light painting could emulate the look of neon lights.

Some participants couldn't think of their own design. They seemed to have fun!

ARTISTSHARING ARTISTSHARING ARTISTSHARING CHANKALUN CHANKALUN CHANKALUN

The importance of neon lights as a visual cultural symbol in HK

Why she started working with neon lights

What the difficulties of working with neon lights are

How the signs reflect the ingenuity of HK neon sign masters

Distinctive HK neon signs

ARTISTSHARING ARTISTSHARING ARTISTSHARING KOWLONEON KOWLONEON KOWLONEON

The importance of neone lights as a visual cultural symbol in HK

Why he started working with neon lights

What the difficulties of working with neon lights are How the signs reflect the ingenuity of HK neon sign masters How the signs inspire him

Distinctive HK neon signs

DIFFICULTY OF DIFFICULTY OFDIFFICULTY OF THE WORKSHOP THE WORKSHOPTHE WORKSHOP

There are few problems that are unexpected during the workshop. The photos are laterally inverted Participants found it hard to manage and draw the pattern without a draft.

Time management

Solution: We have drawn the pattern on the white board before we start the photo taking. The participant can follow the layout step by step

REFLECTION REFLECTION REFLECTION

Merits Challenges

Able to demonstrate the style of neon lights through light painting

Engage with artists using neon lights

A fun experience for participants

Finding a target community Torches ran out of battery during the workshop Instagram restriction

Solutions Improvements

Focus on a community that can help preserve neon light culture

Use our phone torch Posting and tagging participants separately

OURREFLECTION OURREFLECTION OURREFLECTION

Could involve physical neon lights

Find a way to involve neon light masters

We know more about the neon light aesthetic and culture in Hong Kong. We understand the importance of preservation of Hong Kong neon light. We are grateful to get the opportumity to exchange ideas with others, especially neon light artist and young people. We hope that Hong Kong neon light will last.