The man accused of vandalising the statue of Queen Victoria in Causeway Bay has won an international 'most promising artist' award.
Pun Sing-lui, who poured red paint over the monument and smashed its nose with a hammer, beat 200 other artists to win $60,000 towards fees at a college of his choice, it was revealed in court yesterday.
The annual competition is held by the Philippe Charriol Foundation and attracts entries from across the world.
Pun, 26, who also poured paint over himself and sat staring at the monument until police arrived, hopes to take up a place at an institute in France.
The sculptor appeared in Eastern Court yesterday to face a charge of criminal damage.
Defence lawyer Philip Wong Chi-wai said Pun's treatment of the statue in Victoria Park on Monday was the result of 'an artistic urge'.