Enjoy a blissful encounter at Tai Wo neighbourhood

In the hustle and bustle of city life, many people narrowly equate happiness with a successful career. Happiness is a state of mind which can be achieved through many facets in our daily life.

It is in this context that Tai Wo Plaza, a transfer hub connecting Tai Wo residents and the rest of the city, unveils the ‘Tao Wo: A Blissful Encounter’, an exhibition and civic campaign, in its first collaboration with budding local illustrator Carmen Ng.

Having exhibited her work in more than 30 venues across Hong Kong, Carmen is thrilled to be a part of this latest meaningful community event. “It aims to convey a simple message that happiness is all around us, and all we need is to pay a little bit more attention to the little things in our everyday life,” she explains.

Famed for her artistic renditions of local neighbourhood gems, Carmen presents a series of watercolour paintings of life in Tai Po, including a ‘Bliss Gallery’ and nine selfie walls.

Carmen’s inspiration is derived from her impression of the many pleasant features in the district. “Tai Po is a much greener and more relaxed version of the city, boasting bicycle tracks, leafy riverside promenades and a lively market,” she observes. “Therefore, my idea of the gallery is to highlight Tai Po’s scenic spots which start at Tai Wo Plaza, and to let more people become aware of its multi-faceted beauty.”

Presented as a map, the 26-metre-long ‘Bliss Gallery’ features a colourful but warm tone, which makes it eye-catching for people. What’s more, by checking the map, visitors will discover a lot of sweet and happy scenes. “This is again to remind people that happiness is everywhere, we just need to look out for it,” she adds.

As for the nine selfie walls, they depict blissful scenes scattered throughout Tai Wo Plaza. This celebration of life through colours and canvas features joyful moments and warm encounters in everyday life, with paintings translated into words by trending Instagram writer Evelyn Kok.

“It doesn’t take a lot of effort to discover the little gems in life,” she muses. “Happiness resides within ourselves, and surfaces readily with a bit of positive thinking.”

To add a dose of Tai Po bliss, limited-edition ‘Blissful Encounter Stickers’ and ‘Carmen Blissful Water Bottles’ designed by the illustrator are available from June 8 to July 12 by redemption after spending a designated amount at Tai Wo Plaza, and successfully registering for a Link membership.