Outtakes

News that local artist Simon Birch is taking his latest project to New York (published in The Review on July 27) generated much online discussion, not least because he said he was planning to leave this city for good and "Hong Kong sucks", referring to the government's lack of vision, a source of his frustration and disappointment.

When Outtakes contacted Birch, he said that while he was working on two projects outside the city, "reports that I am quitting Hong Kong for good are exaggerated". He added that his participation in projects elsewhere was a natural evolution, spurred by obstacles he was increasingly facing while trying to create art here. "It's incredibly difficult to be an artist in a city where the focus is often so completely on the material and where the government's default position is often: 'No'."

Birch says he's done his best to contribute locally through non-commercial art installations and charitable contributions over the years. "My mission is simple — to make art and share it with the world," he says. "To be clear: Hong Kong doesn't owe me, or any other artist, anything. And Hong Kong doesn't 'suck'; we are fortunate in so many ways here. There are many amazing talented artists, galleries and independent creative organisations doing their thing and doing it well, without any formal support."

Metal band Chock Ma, Cantonese reggae sextet Sensi Lion and visual electronic musician Choi Sai Ho are just three of several local indie acts who've teamed up for GiliGulu, a compilation that aims to represent Hong Kong through music, art and … dim sum.