Anya Hindmarch’s ‘Chubby Hearts’ art installation arrives in Hong Kong on Valentine’s Day as couples tie the knot
- ‘It has long been a dream of mine to fly Chubby Hearts over Hong Kong as a surprise to this amazing city,’ Hindmarch says
- While couples venture out to smaller pop-up installations at spots around the city, others use the day to make their love official
Giant heart-shaped balloons popped up across Hong Kong on Valentine’s Day, creating a playful visual backdrop for couples celebrating their love as renowned British fashion designer Anya Hindmarch took her art installation outside London for the first time.
The day was also seized upon by 180 couples tying the knot, a 27 per cent drop from last year’s 246 and almost half the number who did so on Valentine’s Day in 2019 before the emergence of Covid-19.
A launch ceremony for the “Chubby Hearts” art installation, listed as one of the city’s mega events for the year, was held at Central’s Statue Square Garden on Wednesday morning, officiated by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.
His wife Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim also helped to mark the occasion, along with Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, culture minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, actress Carina Lau Ka-ling and Hindmarch herself.
“I trust your hearts are all as chubby as mine on this splendid day, where romance is in the air,” John Lee said.
Hindmarch delivered a festive greeting and described her happiness at being back in Hong Kong, a city that helped launch her business empire.
“Happy New Year of the Dragon, and what a great pleasure it is to be back in Hong Kong, my favourite city, and in fact the site of my very first ever shop [outside Britain] back in 1993,” she said.
