Iconic neon cow sign in Hong Kong removed, set for new museum
Huge neon advertisement for Sammy's Kitchen that became a local landmark is deemed an illegal structure and removed after 37 years
When the three-metre-long "neon cow" was dismantled and taken down, Sammy Yip could no longer conceal his sadness as he bade farewell to the sign he designed nearly 40 years ago.
"It's sad, but I'm glad it has found a good home," said the 84-year-old restaurateur.
"I'm happy that my sign will go to the museum in West Kowloon. At least I can go there and have a look at it from time to time. I have deep emotional attachment to this neon cow."
The iconic sign for Sammy's Kitchen in Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun, was taken down yesterday after the Buildings Department ruled it was an illegal structure, even though it had hung there for 37 years.
But instead of being dumped in a landfill, the sign was rescued by M+, the visual culture museum to be opened in the West Kowloon Cultural District in 2019. It is the first neon sign to be acquired for the museum's growing collection.
Aric Chen, design and architecture curator at M+, said the sign is the latest addition to the M+ collection, which now has about 4,500 pieces, including some 1,000 design and architecture works.