DRAGON LIGHTS

LIGHT INSTALLATIONS AT DRAGON GARDEN
-The Politics of the Object: Transformative public and cultural landscapes-

How does architecture and design intersect with the transformation of the city fabric and cultural landscape? We studied a specific private property that is undergoing transformation into a publicly accessible space in Hong Kong. The interactive installations  engaged with the environment, context and history of the site; in particular with the complex context and its potential interface between the public and the private. Dragon Garden is an example of a designed cultural landscape as defined by the World Heritage Convention, and its dynamic history reflect and create a future role in the Tsuen Wan district plans as hoped and proposed by the Dragon Garden Charitable Trust.

OVERVIEW

Often, Light fixtures perform a singular function. Using light to bring out multiple meaning is the purpose of this exhibition. In using research, design and built methods, 21 students produce seven light objects to express their views on the cultural heritage within Dragon Garden.
Leading the students to go out of the classroom and teaching this seminar curriculum “The Politics of the Object: Transformative public and cultural landscapes’, Ms. Marisa K.S Yiu  thought that the combination of innovation and conservation is the key to this seminar.

Ms. Yiu said: “The hopes of this seminar is for students to reach out and engage with transformative sites that are rich in history undergoing transformation and creatively engage with Hong Kong. The Dragon Garden collaboration is a perfect testing ground and has provided the students an opportunity to learn and create installations that deal with the potential of what it can be.” Ms. Yiu led students to participate lighting installations at the Graham Street Market in 2008.

Dragon Garden was built by the late Hong Kong community leader and philanthropist Dr. Lee Iu Cheung, as a private garden, and accorded Grade II status by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2006. The various residences and pavilions—in the new architecture of a Classical Chinese style—were designed by first generation mainland architect Chu Pin, who was involved in the restoration of the Forbidden City in Beijing in the 1920’s.

This lights installation project is supported and funded by The Dragon Garden Charitable Trust, founded by Cynthia Lee Hong Yee, grand daughter of the late founder, “I hope that this collaboration between the academic community and The Dragon Garden Charitable Trust will help showcase Dragon Garden as a ‘Green Cultural Icon’ to open to the public in the near future.”

Saturday, May 15th 2010 Exhibition and Event

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CURATOR: Marisa Yiu. This project, exhibition and event was kindly supported by Cynthia Lee, Levan Mak, Ah-Pui and the Dragon Garden Charitable Trust.

STUDENT TEAMS:
Behind the Wall
Ronald Chon, Thobea Wan, Angus Yip
Bottles of Memory
Eric Kwok, Toby Cheung, Gordon Chak, Viyan Lau
Resonance
Kay Li, Tracy Mok, Bill Chan
Hydro-virtuality
Yvonne Yan, Kelvin Luk, Ho Wing Ho
Memory Blocks
David Gar, Alexander Chan
Barely Visible
Tobi Chan, Poman Hui, Rachel Cheng
Where the Dragon Lies?
Stanley Chan, Choi Kit Wang, William Lai

Graphic Booklet: Angus Yip and David Tong
Lighting workshop: Christopher Mok

PUBLICATIONS:
“Public pleasure, private ownership?” in  China International Architectural Expo
May 24 2010 – Sing Tao Daily
May 24 2010 – Ming Pao Newspaper

more at Dragon Garden journal and Dragon Garden Charitable Trust