SETTING ASIDE concerns about feng shui, you could understand the restaurant owner's predicament. A nude sculpture had been installed in the lobby of a nearby building with its back turned prominently towards his own establishment. Diners certainly couldn't be exposed to that view over their chardonnay.
Since the omens for business were bad, a feng shui master was consulted and approved another auspicious position for the statue. Fortunately, this satisfied the parties involved - and the more prudish diners.
The sculpture is one of only a handful on public view either inside or outside commercial buildings in Hong Kong. It was commissioned by a property developer who recognised that art can and should exist outside a museum.
'We have consciously linked visual arts to our commercial buildings,' said Stephen Spurr, general manager and director of Swire Properties. 'This is very deliberate and differs from galleries and museums, where one tends to see art in isolation. We wanted people to interact with art and to break down the barriers.'
Inspiring artwork and innovative design should be part of any cosmopolitan environment, but the government's efforts in this respect continually fall short of expectations. This leaves the onus on private business to provide meaningful and creative works in shopping centres and commercial buildings, but few are responding to the challenge.
Installing a sculpture or a painting can be a complex process involving architects, engineers, designers, consultants and the artists themselves. Many property developers don't prepare for this when planning a new building.
