Opinion | Hong Kong’s magnificent rocks defaced with homophobic, nonsensical graffiti
Shek O, which means ‘rocky bay’, is surrounded by rugged granite and rocky volcanic cliffs, whose boulders have recently been spray-painted by mindless vandals
I love good street art, when a dull wall or shop shutter is brought to life by someone who knows how to handle a spray can.
Who wouldn’t appreciate the work of Portugal’s Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils, known for his bas-relief carving technique, or the cool pixelated images of French urban artist Invader. Both have left their creative fingerprints all over the world, including in Hong Kong.
But let’s get one thing clear. Wielding a spray can does not make you a creative genius and hate speech and tasteless messages are not art.
Recently, I was walking my dog at one of my favourite spots in Shek O, the sleepy village at the southernmost point of Hong Kong Island. Home to the hiker-friendly Dragon’s Back and a couple of beaches, it’s the perfect place for stressed-out city slickers to get their fix of nature.
The village and peninsula of Tai Tau Chau are surrounded by rugged granite and rocky volcanic cliffs (Shek O means “rocky bay”).
