Hong Kong’s best outdoor art spaces: from Tai Kwun to Tamar Park, Victoria Harbour and the West Kowloon waterfront, here’s where to get a dose of culture on the go

Apr 13 , 2024

Tai Kwun in Central has played host to a wide array of art events since it opened in May 2018 – among them, Inner Glow, which in September 2022 saw digital and 3D mapping technology used to project animations and images onto the facades of buildings. Photo: Edmond So

Nearly six years ago, Tai Kwun welcomed the public with a fresh face after extensive renovations that saw it transform from a former police station and prison into a multi-use public space bringing together upscale restaurants and bars, independently run shops, art galleries, and an entire annex dedicated to presenting the arts.

The beautiful architecture of the former Central Police Station compound and its 16 heritage buildings – three of which were given “declared monument” status – alone would have been enough to attract visitors. The repurposed space now includes the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s JC Cube art space and the enclosed courtyard square of the Parade Ground. The Tai Kwun complex hosts outdoor installations and art displays, as well as weekend art and craft markets, while for some years, beautiful Christmas displays have been set up in collaboration with sponsors.

Pictured in September 2022, Inner Glow at Tai Kwun in Central used digital and 3D mapping technology to project animations and images onto the building facades of the historic complex. Photo: Edmond So

Tai Kwun has a unique presence in the city, offering the public a space to experience art outside the more structured, buyer-driven confines of galleries and exhibitions like Art Basel and traditional museums.

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Transforming Tai Kwun into a place for artists to reach audiences has perhaps paved the way for the growing number of outdoor and public exhibitions that now take place across the city. Both the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade and the expansive stretch of lawn space in Tamar Park outside the Central Government Complex have frequently played host to interactive installations.

Seen here in June 2023 in Tamar, Admiralty, Rubber Duck is a series of giant floating sculptures of yellow rubber ducks, designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman. Photo: May Tse

The government has taken note of the success of outdoor art installations such as the giant Rubber Duck sculptures by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman floating in Victoria Harbour, embracing the concept to promote various initiatives. In February, for instance, part of the West Kowloon waterfront was covered in a sea of anthropomorphic purple grapes – mascots of an anti-deception campaign, which thereby doubled as an installation delivering a community service announcement, warning the public of the dangers of online and other scams.

Such projects demonstrate the power art has to engage the public and spark conversation. Many Hong Kong public spaces can be used in a myriad of creative ways to embrace the city’s growing appetite for accessible art.

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An anti-fraud mascot of the Hong Kong Police Force, Little Grape went on show at the West Kowloon waterfront in February 2024. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

The success of bringing together simple messages with a lighthearted approach is an important reminder that art can be fun for all ages, and need not always be behind velvet ropes in formal spaces.

As part of the government’s initiative to embrace Art Month and engage the public, the creative minds behind Japanese art collective TeamLab were invited to curate a one-of-a-kind installation.

Part of the large-scale outdoor art project Art@Harbour 2024, at the Central and Western District Promenade in Admiralty, TeamLab: Continuous will run through June 2. Photo: Edmond So

At the waterfronts of Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade, TeamLab: Continuous is a colourful display that forms part of the Art@Harbour 2024 programme, now in its third year.

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The installation, which will light up the Central waterfront until June 2, features egg-shaped inflatables that glow in different hues and are accompanied by changing sounds. The eggs dot Tamar Park lawn and spill into Victoria Harbour itself, paving a colourful path from the city into the water.

Visitors in July 2023 to “Vital Signs”, an exhibition curated by Tetra Neon Exchange, and on display at Tai Kwun, Central. Photo: Sam Tsang

“Instagrammable”, large-scale installations have become increasingly popular in recent years, providing an approachable means for the public to engage with art.

Ultimately, though, the public’s growing interest in art has shone a brighter spotlight on venues such as Tai Kwun and M+, where various exhibitions and artist-driven events have been given a home.

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Inner Glow at Tai Kwun, Central, September 2022. Photo: Edmond So

While traditional paintings, sculptures and calligraphy are the mainstays of exhibitions in museums and galleries, spaces like M+ and Tai Kwun have given rise to a broader definition of the art experience. Creators – from DJs and dance troupes, to niche topics such as the cross-pollination of design, culture and sports – now potentially have unconventional stages from which to reach a wider audience.

Held in association with Art Basel Hong Kong for the first time, Tai Kwun Contemporary on March 28 hosted Artists’ Night, enabling selected creators to access spaces for making and showing their craft.

Tai Kwun regularly hosts Artists’ Nights, with the last one, in March 2024, being the first time the event was held in association with Art Basel Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Perhaps the most crucial takeaway from the city’s efforts to engage the public in conversations about art is that more events are happening.

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M+ has a venue for hosting a diverse range of events that touch on different spectrums in the art scene. The various spaces within the museum, including M+ Cinema, show films and works that explore the very nature of art, with many events taking place after hours.

“Vital Signs”, Tai Kwun, Central, July 2023. Photo: Sam Tsang

Events centre on more than just displaying art – they often take the form of intimate talks, interactive events, and visual and music performances to encourage interaction and dialogue between artists and the public.

While cartoon purple grapes taking over the West Kowloon waterfront might not seem a deeply artistic concept, there’s no denying the positive impact that accessible art in public spaces can have on democratising art and inspiring interest in the average Hongkonger.

Art

Tai Kwun – the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison compound – provides a space to enjoy art beyond the structured, buyer-driven confines of traditional galleries
TeamLab: Continuous plopped giant fluorescent ‘eggs’ in the harbour, Florentijn Hofman’s Rubber Duck made a big impression in 2023, and the West Kowloon waterfront was once hit by a sea of anthropomorphic grapes