‘Funeral vibe’: HK$500,000 light art installation in Hong Kong’s East Kowloon slammed for poor taste and cost
- Images of LED roses display at East Kowloon Cultural Centre in Kowloon Bay went viral on social media
- Artwork has since been covered up and cordoned off by police, while the organiser says it will delay launch of installation until end of March
A low-cost light art installation in Hong Kong’s East Kowloon has ignited a wave of criticism online for its “funeral vibe” and perceived unnecessary cost, with its organiser saying it will delay the launch of the showcase until the end of March.
Images of the sea of light-emitting diode (LED) roses displayed at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre in Kowloon Bay went viral on social media from Wednesday, with users commenting that the area resembled a funeral parlour.
The flower bed, white in the daytime and blue at night, was covered up on Thursday and cordoned off by police.
Kwun Tong district councillor Cheung Ki-tang on Thursday revealed that the project cost more than HK$500,000 (US$64,000) and was planned as a photo-taking hotspot for young people.
Cheung said the committee members switched to LED flowers rather than the fresh ones because the latter “took too much effort in watering”.
“I do not feel like [the installation looks like a funeral house]. But apparently everyone has different opinions on the installation art,” the committee’s president told a radio programme.
