Hong Kong’s neon signs find new homes inside shops as rules take buzz out of outdoor displays
- Neon signs have been disappearing in past decades, but some artists are keeping traditional trade alive through indoor installations
03:35
Hong Kong’s neon heritage moves indoors as city tries to keep tradition glowing
At his studio in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang area, Jive Lau Ho-fai spends hours over 1,200 degree-Celsius (2,192 Fahrenheit) burners as he meticulously bends glass tubes for neon signs.
KowloNeon is decorated with his neon creations, including a 200cm (79 inches) face-off between a dragon and a phoenix.
At 41, Lau is relatively young compared with the few remaining neon masters in the city. He began learning the craft five years ago after witnessing the disappearance of traditional neon signs and learning about their cultural significance.
“At first, I had an idea about preserving Hong Kong’s beautiful things,” Lau said. “You could say it was my initial calling – to make something and bring some hope to the place.”
Brightly lit, colourful neon signboards used to be such a common sight that they became a cultural symbol of the city, featured regularly in tourism advertisements, postcards, souvenirs and films.
But they have been disappearing over the past two decades, as a result of stricter regulations and the growing popularity of cheaper LED alternatives.
