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Blow off the Steam – Art Installation x Sound Walk, Cityplaza

This installation is inspired by an idiom blow off steam. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, blow off steam means to do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy. Such idiom also matches closely with Cityplaza’ s campaign tagline “LIVE HAPPY”, namely to release. We thus borrow this vivid imagery of air flow and steam to create this installation.

We drape more than six kilometres of fabric across the atrium and centre bridge of Cityplaza. In total, we have used more than 12,000 sqft chiffon ribbon, hung 3,223 pieces of fabric in 412 different lengths and 21 different colours to create a colourful cave-like landscape for the space and transform this convenient passageway into a playground in different colour gradients for both kids and adults.

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The four pillars in the installation represents different themes: family, wellness, passion and connection, creating four zones, which are distinguished by four different colours. We have created four types of interaction in each zone:

 

Orange zone: The wind tower is a column that housed three big fans, they will blow stronger wind when more people step on the matts with sensors built in.

Pink zone: The soundscape is in the shape of water lily pond, each flowers can be touched and create sounds within itself.

Blue / purple zone: The area is covered with hanging plants and lawn among the blowing ribbons to create an immersive and surreal experience in the space.

Lime zone: There are small interactive AR games embedded in the installation as well as a Sound Walk that could be easily triggered by scanning a QR code by your phone with your earphones. Three specially designed routes are created – one for artistic souls, one for happy families and one for industrious office workers, to let visitors have a brand new perspective at the familiar surroundings with our carefully curated audio-guided tours in the mall and spaces around. At each spots a super graphic is created to hint the visitors how to engage and interact with the narration created.

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Sound Walk

Sound walk is not new, but relatively uncommon in Hong Kong. The advantage is that, it allows maximization of space, the visitors will navigate Cityplaza and visit different shops according the audio, instead of staying within the installation the whole time. The other advantage is to minimize the chance to touch but still able to create an interactive experience. Visitors can use their own smartphone and easily download this pre-recorded audio file via a QR code.

 

Three different routes are proposed to go along with this installation. Each with one of the themes. The idea is like a treasure hunt (similar to Running Man) but the instructions are given through the audio. When visitors finish all the checkpoints of a route, they can redeem a gift from Cityplaza. Activities could be saying thank you to the shop sales, strike a yoga post on a certain spot or take a picture on Instagram. The ultimate goal is to get people moving, connecting and having fun.

Emotional well-being

 

It has never been so important for our emotional well-being. Pandemic has altered our way of living permanently: working from home, social distancing and immense stress and worry. Uncomfortable emotions can arise - such as sadness, anger, frustration and hopelessness. Unaddressed emotional concerns can lead to negative consequences. However, Hong Kongers are not used to articulate their emotion openly, not to mention seeking for help. How such message- to live happily- is being conveyed to the public effectively becomes the key.

 

Using arts and culture to improve emotional health is supported with solid research: empirical studies suggest aesthetic appreciation affects our cognitive and emotional states to promote physical and psychological well-being. Art is an effective medium to promote health and well-being among individuals.

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Culture Is BEAM
This whole event is curated based on the theoretical framework BEAM that Mr Louis Yu, the former executive director of performing art in West Kowloon Cultural District, develops. This framework gives a concrete structure to events or venue management; the ultimate goal is to generate common value as well as profits with the help of art and culture. It consists of four pillars and our project could be sub-divided accordingly:

 

Belief and Value- #emotionalwellbeing #livehappy #whatmakesyouhappy
Everyday Life- #treasurehunt  #familyactivities #runningman #coupon
Arts and Creation- #installation #interactive #soundwalk 
Memories- #connectionwithpeople #instagram #navigatingcityplaza #fun #unique

Category: Public

Location: Atrium & Centre Bridge 2/F, Cityplaza, Taikoo, Hong Kong 

Client: Swire Properties

Year: 2021

Area: 550 sqm

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