A Synthetic Journey Through Neon and Visuals

This year-end, in addition to organising deTour 2024, the Hong Kong annual design festival, PMQ also organises the first multimedia programming and projection neon exhibition, Ne-on-Ne-on@Sham Shui Po, from December 4 to December 31. Set beneath the Sham Shui Po viaduct, this exhibition is curated by @streetsignhk, who has previously participated in deTour (2022-23) twice, and collaborated with media artist and electronic music composer Choi Sai Ho for the first time.

After eight years of exploring the conservation of Hong Kong’s neon and signboard culture through preservation of existing signs, exhibitions, and design practice as @streetsignhk, the architects Ken Fung and Kevin Mak return to their original mission: to communicate the often-overlooked, both highly technical but poetic aspects of neon culture to the general public through spatial experiences and storytelling.

Inspired by the unique site conditions, @streetsignhk remains committed to preserving the cultural and historical value of neon within urban environments. The team expanded the modular neon system into programmable neon pillars arranged in a large-scale 3-dimensional display with multiple grids across a stepped stage. Fascinated by the dynamic interplay between unique visuals of Hong Kong’s urban landscape and captivating beats in Choi Sai-ho’s works, @streetsignhk invited the multimedia artist to engage in a creative dialogue with their programmable neon light system by utilizing the flyover’s soffit as a projection screen and integrating stage lighting controls, Ne-on-Ne-on becomes a dynamic multimedia platform for neon art to showcase its aesthetics, cultural significance, and emotional connection to the people of the city.