Latest news with #JerryLoo
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Striking Hong Kong neon exhibition honours ‘heroes' of the craft and a family's legacy
Hong Kong neon master Wong Kin-wah holds a glass tube over a burner's flame, bending it and occasionally blowing into it with the finesse that comes from decades of honing his craft. Speed and precision are needed to mould the tube into shape before it is filled with noble gases such as neon and argon to create its distinctive glow. 'I modified this burner myself so I could get a more intense flame,' Wong says at his studio in the Kowloon neighbourhood of Mong Kok, where he has worked for the past 50 years. Wong, 84, is one of the city's last neon craftsmen. He began learning his craft at 17 years old, after moving to Hong Kong from mainland China's Guangdong province in 1957. Wong works in his studio in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Photo: Sun Yeung Like many, Wong was seeking a better life after China's civil war (1927-1949). He found it in neon. Next to Wong is his grandson Jerry Loo, a 22-year-old artist with a flair for animation and a deep desire to learn from his grandfather.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
‘Neon Heroes' shines light on Hong Kong's illuminated heritage
For decades, neon signs lit up Hong Kong, casting vivid hues across the urban jungle. But as government regulations continue to tighten, most of those glowing tubes have been replaced with LED Advertisement Artist Jerry Loo with the Superhero Landing sculpture featuring at the PMQ exhibition in Hong Kong's Central district. Photo: Neon Heroes Running from today to July 7, the 'Neon Heroes: Illuminated Dreams' exhibition is a collaboration between two generations of talent. The interactive display will feature six neon sculptures that blend Master Wong's 66 years of experience with Loo's contemporary artistic vision and his love for superheroes. 'This project is not just about neon lights, it's about legacy,' says Loo. 'It's a tribute to my grandfather and to all the unsung heroes who continue to make Hong Kong glow.' The sculptures themselves are playful yet poignant. Superhero Landing, with its cracked-earth base, channels the energy of comic-book legends, a reminder that heroism begins with courage, while The Luminous nods to anime icons such as Dragon Ball that defined many a childhood and reflects the light we carry within ourselves. Neon Heroes spotlights a rising talent in Hong Kong's neon sculpture scene. Photo: Neon Heroes Most affecting is Eternal Glow: Legacy in Neon, co-created by grandfather and grandson. This centrepiece honours the tradition of neon craftsmanship and its artisans. In this spirit, the exhibition becomes a testament to those who have quietly shaped the city's visual identity.
