Hong Kong can draw on Art March’s success by keeping it authentic

Last week, a friend and I chatted about our children’s favourite art pieces after happening upon an auction house’s exhibition in a building in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district. We both recalled stopping to look at Yayoi Kusama’s Mount Fuji prints. “I pass by the space twice every day,” my friend said. She told me that my son’s pick – a piece by Sam Francis – was a new installation, replacing what had been a display of handbags. How often do we pause to notice art, or enjoy life in general? Perhaps that’s the very essence of art: getting immersed in a much-needed and captivating distraction from the demands of a busy schedule and looking at something beautiful that transcends time and space. March has given Hongkongers the chance to escape the hustle and bustle to admire meaningful and beautiful art from all over the world. It’s certainly an accessible mental break for a highly strung city; viewing art has been found to reduce stress and anxiety, lift moods and enhance cognitive functions. We often hear about Hong Kong being the place where “East-meets-West”. Art March has become the month Hongkongers can hear, see, feel and breathe it – it’s much more than a slogan. So kudos to the organisers and the Hong Kong government. Judged by its success and popularity, it’s a definite keeper. It has taken decades of commitment to cultivate and nurture the art scene, building on the foundations laid by the 54-year-old Hong Kong Arts Festival, which runs incredible programmes from late February through March annually. Hopefully, all the different forms of art can inspire Hong Kong to be more creative. It’s a breath of fresh air to see the Tourism Board getting its act together. Earlier this month, the government-subvented body unveiled its work plan for the year. Hearing that the board has adjusted its fiscal resources, which the government has increased by 35 per cent, with a different strategy focusing on overseas promotion, including in Southeast Asian countries, is music to the ears. The pivot from trying to entice visitors who only come for day trips to stay overnight is a wise move. Executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon explained the board’s decision to allocate 75 per cent of its budget to the overseas market with “why don’t we focus on attracting more visitors from farther away or overseas?” Efforts to include regional markets, among others, deserve praise. The board confirmed it will bring down the curtain on “A Symphony of Lights”, a nightly 10-minute light and sound show using over 40 skyscrapers along Victoria Harbour. The feature has had its two-decade run. It will be replaced by two types of shows, according to Tourism Board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok. There will be immersive projections for different festivals in various districts, along with long-term light installations at popular attractions. A revamp is a step in the right direction, recognising that it’s the experience, not the spectacle, that people enjoy. The board also highlighted a plan to make October “Halloween month”. Thanks to Ocean Park, one of the first to experiment with the Halloween theme locally, a festival with roots in ancient Celtic culture has developed a Hong Kong twist. Trick-or-treating remains challenging in a city of vertical concrete, but the board is right to see the potential of what has evolved and gained popularity, especially when it comes to cosplay, and try to turn it into an attraction. However, while Art March has been hugely successful, the board must be wary of adopting a formulaic box-ticking approach. Building on something that has organically grown in popularity is great. Making it a brand for an entire month? Not so great perhaps. Hong Kong’s tourism sector would do well to learn from past mistakes too. Remember the hopes around the “panda economy”? We certainly love our home-grown pandas in Hong Kong, but we’ll never be able to compete with Sichuan province. Why would we? Giant pandas aren’t native to the city, so simply pandering to panda enthusiasts seems artificial and overtly commercial. Authenticity is important when Hong Kong is trying to sell its uniqueness. The city is gearing up for more fun next month. The Rugby Sevens is celebrating its 50th year so we can expect a high-octane carnival with fans arriving from all over the world. That tradition of authenticity should also inspire the Tourism Board when it reconfigures how the city can host even more sporting events.

Hong Kong can draw on Art March’s success by keeping it authentic

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tourism officials are finally seeing that supporting organic cultural growth, rather than ticking boxes, is what makes the city attractive

Tourism officials are finally seeing that supporting organic cultural growth, rather than ticking boxes, is what makes the city attractive