Builders, artists explore and showcase green living

The complementarity between construction and art is being showcased from today through sculpture, installations, paintings, photography, and workshops, at the Construction Industry Council's Zero Carbon Park in Kowloon Bay.

The exhibit, until Saturday, October 20, featuring four themes, is supported by a free online virtual exhibition and a video offering a guided tour on September 25.

The virtual tour can be accessed at www.zcpart.org

The Construction Industry Council's Zero Carbon Park, Chairman, Paul Chong Kin-lit, says the exhibit highlights the creativity of construction and the part technology plays in turning high-quality green homes into a reality. “This gives the public a better insight into the philosophies that go into sustainable design, and better appreciation for the creativity and vision behind them.”

He says ‘construction’ is more than an industry. “The word itself evokes a sense of humankind’s inventive spirit to keep up with modern times.''

Under the art and construction theme, artist Lam Tung-pang builds his ideal city of hills, people
and high-rises in the installation, 'Things Happened on the Island.' He uses painting, toys and building
blocks. Visitors are invited to rearrange components to build the city together with him.

Veteran Hong Kong Sculptor Danny Lee Chin-fai, creates 'Urban Waterscape,' a group of outdoor sculptures that double as benches for public use, under the exhibition theme, 'fusing oriental and natural charm.' Artist Haqnison Lau Hok- shing, combines Penjing, or miniature landscapes in 'Sitting Table - Hong Kong,' with Chinese Ta, a type of platform seating, to create a space for outdoor recreation where people can meet and relax. Lee and Lau demonstrate the human philosophy of co-existing with nature, while also preserving tradition and illustrating the possibilities of green living.

The third theme focuses on environmental issues such as global warming.

Photographer Lau Chi-chung, has created a composition of woods and village houses that convey the tension between human expansion and the forces of nature, 'In Landscaped Artifacts.'

Also, painter Ivy Yuen Chun-tai, has spent half a year negotiating many Hong Kong hiking trails along reservoirs. A series of drawings named 'Forestry' illustrates the rise and fall of Hong Kong’s horsetail pine population and how it parallels the city’s urbanization, as well as increase in plantation projects and the threat of pests.

Sculptor Mok Yat-san often depicts polar bears, one of the victims of global warming, in various forms. The name of the art piece 'Beware of the P Bear' is a humorous but thought-provoking reminder of the dangers of climate change. Another one of his exhibits, 'Lovingkindness,' resembles traditional Penjing (the ancient Chinese art of depicting trees and landscape in miniature) by condensing architecture and juxtaposing the mini-scenery with a polar bear. Visitors can then get a bird's eye view of the landscape from above, shedding their physical limitations, and exploring the organic relationships between landscape, trees and rocks in miniature form. The intention of using Penjing is also so that visitors can visualise themselves taking a leisurely stroll through the scenery.

And in the fouth theme, sustainable living take precedence.

In 'Modern Landscape,' artist Leo Wong Chun-yam, upcycles rocks and cement fragments collected from construction sites to form sculptures, recreating the stories once told by the structures themselves. Meanwhile, artist duo Mudwork invites visitors to embrace green living through 'Tree Call,' which makes use of wood fragments to create small DIY bird whistles.

Also, Farmside Art Research Lab (part-farmer, part-artist Monti Lai and cross-disciplinary artist Meiki Lee) is inviting people to join in the Roving with Bamboo Ink – Nature Is Art workshop. This is designed to take place in the familiarity of home and to initiate connection with nature through breathing exercises, creative poetry, and drawings created by ink pressed from vegetable leaves.

Exhibition:

Construction Industry Council – Zero Carbon Park

8 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay

Time 9:00am – 8:00pm (indoor) ; 7:00am to 8:00pm (outdoor).

+3