Hong Kong — home to inspiring architecture, major international art fairs, Asia’s first Digital Art Fair and more… this city has time and again reinforced itself as the region’s international art hub. And the burgeoning sub-culture of street art over the years, is no exception — firmly marking its place in the city and garnering the support and appreciation of business owners, fellow art enthusiasts, and neophiliac Instagrammers alike.
From chromatic graffiti art tucked into alleyways and across shop entrances to murals that stretch as high as the buildings they are painted on, take a pause from the bustle of the city and stroll the streets of SoHo, Kowloon and Sai Kung to appreciate the dynamic sub-culture of street art. We spotlight the best spots to take your camera and for a shot of some of the city’s most beautifil graffiti and mural paintings.
Sai Kung
After the cancellation of the 2020 HK Walls street art festival, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the collaborative project by the non-profit organisation returned last spring with its 2021 edition, choosing the famous fishing seaside town of Sai Kung as its wide-scale canvas.
The festival, which aims to create opportunities for local and international artists to showcase their talents in Hong Kong through street art, graffiti and muralism, invited 22 local male and female artists to decorate the town with murals, giving this hip town and even fresher look.
A cluster of art works can be found around the Sai Kung Market and Sai Kung Garden blocks.
Wong Chuk Hang
Over on the far south, the hip and trending town of Wong Chuk Hang makes for a fun weekend trip with friends and family. With a slew of new dining hotspots and a vibrant new coat of murals and street are to appreciate, the area serves up long stretches of art works located along Heung Yip Road, where One Island South is situated, and Wong Chuk Hang Road, the stretch of road on which Ovolo Southside sits. Make sure to also make a stop next to the Wong Chuk Hang Playground and Yip Fat Street. These Instagrammable spots are sure to be a hit with the kids and liven up your social media feed.
Wan Chai
While you’re down south, stop over at Wan Chai for some wide-scale and psychedelic murals. Starting from Morrison Hill Swimming Pool on Oi Kwan Road, you’ll find a long stretch of oriental-style graffiti work by group Kwan Clan, a collaborative effort among five Chinese artists.
Then, continue down the road and you will find several more creative pieces marking various buildings along the way, including the famous animal mural outside of the SPCA Building. And if you’re willing to stretch your legs farther, check out the realist art piece titled The Huskey by Yopey on Kennedy Street as well.
Central
Making your way in and out of the streets of the city’s shopping and dining hotspot SoHo is almost an adventure, especially when you’re on the hunt for the most iconic murals plastered across shop entrances and tucked between shops and alleways. This area colourfully reflects Hong Kong as the cultural melting pot that it is.
Boasting some of the most Instagramed parts of Hong Kong and featuring some of the most recognisable murals around town, the street art here is hard to miss, but if you’ve never taken a second to stop and appreciate it, some of the trendiest ones to look out for are the vibrant Old Townhouses by Alex Croft outside of the GOD store on Graham street; Uma Nota’s iconic Flamingo lady by Elsa Jean de Dieu on Peel Street; the imposing Hollywood-inspired piece above Madera Hollywood Hotel; the beautiful twin coy by Christian Storm on Shing Wong Street; and the urban impressionism-style of Hong Kong by Dan Kitchener (aka DANK) and Charles Williams on Elgin Street.
Sheung Wan
If you have the bandwidth to continue to Sheung Wan, proceed along Hollywood Road until you reach the stairway that leads up to square street to reach Tank Lane. Here, the journey takes you through a series of murals by local and international artists. This is also where iconic mosiac-style portrait of hometown hero Bruce Lee by XEVA (Yoo Seung-Baik) hangs overhead. And at the end of the trip, turn into Bridges Street to arrive at Tai Ping Shan where Instagram-famous teashop Teakha serves refreshingly delicious chai and treats.
Sai Ying Pun
Farther down the western side of Hong Kong island, a quaint alleyway in Sai Ying Pun named One Art Lane transports you to a multi-verse of colours and quirky characters. Its alleyways and stairways are completely covered with a collection of 26 murals by 17 international and local artists. This spot is easily accessible by train as it is conveniently situated right outside Exit B3 of Sai Ying Pun MTR station.
The Mills
Although Tsuen Wan doesn’t score high on the list of must-see places to appreciate street art, the latest revitalised heritage building, The Mills, formerly a textiles factory, does feature over a handful of murals along the wide entrance of its building if ever you are on this side of town or visiting the landmark.
Although Kowloon side doesn’t spring to mind when on the hunt for art, its old buildings and old-style Hong Kong aesthetic provides a stark contrast to the city’s earlier commissions of murals. Decades old buildings, shop shutters and high rises along Sham Shui Po, Prince Edward, Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei were given new life thanks to HK Wall’s 2016 project.
If you find yourself around the Yau Tsim Mong district, check out the iconic large scale multi-coloured geometric dog by Okuda San Miguel, named Rainbow Thief, that is plastered along the length of the Man Fung Residential Building in Sham Shui Po or the street art that decorate the infamous Yau Ma Tei fruit market and bustling stalls along Waterloo Road. In Mong Kok, the Public Square Street is a relatively new addition. You’ll surprised to see that these vibrant gems stand out and highlight the areas with an vibrant interpretation of Hong Kong’s multicultural city.