King of Kowloon's graffiti to appear in new M+ museum
Legendary figure who took his calligraphy to the streets is finally given art world's seal of approval with one of his works to go on public display in M+
The late graffiti artist known as the "King of Kowloon" has finally won official recognition, with one of his works finding a permanent home in a public museum.
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has bought a pair of wooden doors bearing the celebrated calligraphy of Tsang Tsou-choi, a legendary figure who died in 2007.
Tsang left a legacy of graffiti on lamp posts, pillars and walls around the city that was derided - and often painted over - by officials, even though his work was praised by critics.
Now the debate about his artistic worth seems to have been settled once and for all.
Tsang's painted doors will be in the new M+ museum's collection when it opens its doors in 2017 at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The museum is still being built.
The doors are among M+'s latest acquisitions since Swiss collector Uli Sigg's donation of HK$1.3 billion of contemporary Chinese art in June.