HKWALLS 2018 Part 2: Sheung Wan Street Art

Nong Pop’s street art mural for HKWalls 2018

Here is the second article on the HKWALLS street art festival held in May 2018. Part 1 (artjouer.wordpress.com/2018/05/15/hkwalls-2018-part-1-street-art-central-and-sai-ying-pun/) focused on the artworks in Central and Sai Yung Pun districts on Hong Kong Island; this article features those in Sheung Wan (which is located between the aforementioned districts).

The event was organized by HKWALLS (hkwalls.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of street art and culture in the community.

Artist: Jecks and Nong Pop (Thailand)

A pair of Thai artist’s created these complementary pieces, which share a street corner and a pink color scheme. In Nong Pop’s portrait, a young girl turns to stare at the viewer, the tiger just below her left shoulder reflecting her fierce interior

Two complementary murals by Nong Pop; (left) and Jecks (right). The artwork was created for the HKWalls 2018 street art event.

In Jeck’s work, a cherubic figure with quiver of arrows on his back appears to be targeted by arrows. Though he lacks wings, he looks like he might be cupid, the Roman god of desire, erotic love and attraction. The crossed fingers behind his back suggest that he has been insincere in his matchmaking (which might explain the arrows being shot at him).

Portrait of cupid by Thai artist Jecks .

Info:
Location: 2A Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan (BOOM ASIA)
Nong Pop’s website: nongpop55.wordpress.com
Jecks’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/jecks_bkk

Artist: Barlo (Italy)

Italian artist Barlo’s mural entitled The Pet of the Archaeologist; (created for HKWalls 2018)

Barlo is an Italian artist based in Hong Kong. His paintings and street art tend to have a mythical and mysterious feel. In this striking artwork, entitled The Pet of the Archaeologist, it is not clear whether the creature depicted is a living animal, a porcelain figure or a biology specimen that has been cut into cross-sections.

Barlo’s mural:; The Pet of the Archaeologist

Info:
Location: Alley behind 18 Upper Station St.
Barlo’s website: hmrbarlo.com

Artists: WEST one & Megic (China)

Collaborative street art mural by Chinese artists WEST & Megic (featured at HKWalls 2018)

This collaborative effort by Chinese artists WEST one and Megic is captivating, but it is difficult to photograph (as it is a long artwork in a narrow alley). I love the way three different styles are used: the head of the dragon is painted in a realistic style (by Megic), while it’s body combines a classic Chinese ink landscape style with a futuristic, geometric street art style (by WEST one). The resulting piece could be a comment on Chinese culture—modern and moving forward but with strong roots in tradition.

Mural by artists WEST & Megic (China): detail view of the dragon’s head.

Mural by artists WEST & Megic: detail view of the dragon’s body. It combines abstract geometric shapes with elements from traditional Chinese landscape painting.

Mural by Artists WEST & Megic: detail view

Info:
Location:Alley behind Sai Street (back of A Side B Side)
WEST one’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/west.one.fs
Megic’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/megic4ever

Artist: Zlism (aka Zoie Lam, HK)

Colorful street art mural by Zlism (aka Zoie Lam) for HKWalls 2018

One can’t help but feel more cheerful after passing by this lively brightly-colored mural of friendly, weirdly-shaped characters. This piece was painted by Zoie Lam, whose initials provide the ‘zl’ in Zlism

Mural by local artist Zlism (aka Zoie Lam): detail view.

Mural by Hong Kong artist Zlism: detail view

Info:
Location: Rich View Terrace (side wall)
ZLISM’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/zlism
Interview with Zlism: thehoneycombers.com/hong-kong/zlism-interview-zoie-lam-art-illustration-fashion-design/

Artist: Neil Wang (HK)

Local artist Neil Wang’s art-deco-inspired street art for HK Walls 2018

The simple color scheme, floral decorations, clean lines and glamorous subject in this elegant and eye-catching portrait by freelance illustrator Neil Wang bring to mind Art Deco posters of the 1920s.

Mural by Hong Kong artist Neil Wang HK: detail view

Info:
Location: 21 Square Street
Neil Wang’s website: www.neillhw.com

Artist: Riya Chandiramani (HK)

Part of Riya Chandiramani’s mural for HKWalls 2018

Riya Chandiramani’s artwork draws on Indian and Chinese visual motifs. The designs also include words which comment on psychology and society. For example, in the photo below, the design element starting at the bottom left contains the words ‘power’ and’status’ and in the next photo, the sun below the goldfish contains the word ‘peace’.

Mural by Hong Kong artist Riya Chandiramani: detail view

Info:
Location: 22-24 Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan (CRAFTISSIMO)
Riya Chandiramani’s Website: www.riyachandiramani.com

Artists: Carol Mui & Rebecca T Lin (HK)

Local artists Carol Mui & Rebecca T Lin painted this cityscape of Hong Kong for HKWalls 2018

This artwork by a duo of muralists and graphic designers known as Creative Hustlers depicts the skyline of Hong Kong’s Central District as seen from the Mid-levels. The painting captures an interesting side of Hong Kong. Though the urban areas are densely populated concrete jungles, nature is never far away.

Mural by Hong artists Carol Mui & Rebecca T Lin: detail view

Joyce standing in front of a mural by Hong Kong artists Carol Mui & Rebecca T Lin

Info:
Location: Universal Building, 5-13 New St, Tai Ping Shan
Carol Mui’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/carolmuiii
Rebecca T Lin’s Website: www.rebeccatlin.com

Artists: Finu & Yunus (France/HK)

Collaborative work by artists: Finu & Yunus for HKWalls 2018

This is a collaboration between Finu, who is known for her black and white illustrations of creatures—in this case a stylized dragon with a blank, expressionless face reminiscent of No Face in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away —and Yunus, who works with multimedia (often combining music, video, animation and live performance). In the following video from Yunus, you can see how the two elements—street art and multimedia—were combined:

Street art by Finu & Yunus (France/HK): detail view

Info:
Location: 4 Wa Lane (Mahka & La Cantoche)
Finu’s website: www.finu.me
Yunus’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HugoYunus

Artists: Remi Rough & Xenz (UK)

Collaborative street art mural by British artists: Remi Rough & Xenz: detail view

In this mural, the large-scale abstract geometrical designs of Remi Rough and the more intimate nature illustrations of Xenz complement each other well.

Mural by artists Remi Rough (the abstract geometric shapes) & Xenz (the birds) created for HKWalls 2018

Info:
Location: Alley behind 43 Sai St., Sheung Wan
Remi Rough’s website: remirough.com
Xenz’s website: www.xenz.org

Artist: KS (HK)

Mural by Hong Kong artist KS for HKWalls 2018

For this mural on the walls of a café, local artist KS has created a food-themed portrait that is similar in style to the paintings in his Random is Beautiful series of portraits.

Info:
Location: 16 Upper Station Street (3rd Space)
KS’s website: the-ideo.org/ks

Artist: Bisco Smith (US)

Black and white mural by American artist Bisco Smith for HKWalls 2018

American artist Bisco Smith’s white brushstrokes on a black background are a kind of visual representation of freestyle rap lyrics. Before beginning a painting, he chooses an instrumental beat and then improvises brushstrokes to go along with it.

Info:
Location: Alley behind Sai Street
Bisco Smith’s website: biscosmith.com

Artist: DILK (UK)

Street art by British artist DILK for HKWalls 2018

Across the alley from Bisco Smith’s artwork is this colorful abstract piece by British artist DILK.

Info:
Location: Back of 18 Upper Station Street (Parfumerie Tresor & 3rd Space)
DILK’s: www.dilk1.com

Three Works from HKWALLS 2015

Street art doesn’t last for too long, so a lot of the pieces painted the last time HKWALLS was held in the district of Sheung Wan have disappeared. Here are a few of the works that are still around.