The neon signs that once illuminated Hong Kong's night sky with their pulsating colors, tracing the city's vibrant heartbeat, now evoke wistful sighs when remembered—like the faint cracking sound of cold metal cutting through hot glass tubing.
While the Buildings Department's regulatory system for signboard safety (introduced years ago to ensure building safety) wasn't specifically targeting neon signs—small signs (including neon) can remain if meeting safety standards—the gradual disappearance of these luminous icons from Hong Kong's streets has led to the decline of an entire industry. Some veteran neon craftsmen have reluctantly switched trades, while others persist quietly, seeking new possibilities where neon intersects with art. Meanwhile, contemporary artists and museums are reviving these neon dreams, fusing old masters' techniques with new-generation creativity—like soldering fractured glass tubes—reconnecting severed light through alternative narratives.
Preserving the glow
Last December, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department added "Neon Tube Making and Styling Technique" to Hong Kong's Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory. At last month's "ICH Infinity∞" Fun Day event themed "Tradition and Innovation," veteran neon craftsman Wu Chi-kai and neon artist Jive Lau shared insights on neon craftsmanship and its contemporary reinterpretation.
Concurrently, six interactive neon sculptures transformed PMQ's outdoor space into a luminous stage. Emerging local artist Jerry Loo, inspired by superheroes and superpowers, collaborated with his grandfather—master neon craftsman Wong —to create the "Neon Heroes" series.
"This exhibition isn't just about neon lights—it's about legacy. It's my tribute to my grandfather and all the unsung heroes who made Hong Kong glow," said Loo.
An animator's luminous journey
Primarily an animation artist, Loo infused his narrative sensibility into physical space for this project, blending Chinese mythology, Japanese anime, and American superhero comics to explore transformation, power, and intergenerational transmission. From The Dragon Within (about unlocking potential) to Reach For The Stars (pursuing freedom), each interactive piece invites viewers to pose as protagonists, their heroic stances bathed in neon's transformative glow.
The centerpiece, Eternal Glow: Legacy in Neon, forms a golden ratio pattern from above—symbolizing neon's cultural radiance—surrounded by tool-wielding figures representing generational craftsmanship. Behind it shines Wong's classic neon sign, its undulating glow bridging Hong Kong's neon golden age with contemporary homage. "My grandfather is this exhibition's soul. His perseverance embodies Hong Kong cultural resilience," Loo reflected.
Their first large-scale collaboration pushed both creatively: "I work conceptually with animation; his craft is hands-on. We found balance—but the process itself was most enlightening." Loo's accompanying animated short Neon Waltz chronicles Wong's journey from apprentice to master through 1960s Mong Kok—once lit by his signs, now preserved in memory. "We laughed throughout drawing sessions," Loo recalled. To him, neon and LED lights now blur beautifully at dusk, and young audiences encountering neon in galleries is its happy ending.
The master's unbroken light
At 83, with 60 years in the trade, Wong is Hong Kong's oldest active neon craftsman—his earliest works date to the 1960s' Shun Cheong Optical. His workshop, once bustling with multiple craftsmen, now holds just him amid U-shaped worktables lined with tools. "My former apprentices were brilliant—all left the trade. New sign orders are rare; mostly repairs now," he said. "I persist partly to survive, but mostly to pass on this heritage. If youth want to learn, I'll teach freely."
This kind of generosity nurtured artists like Chankalun. Recently, Wong has noticed a growing interest among young locals and international clients ("Some pieces we deliver abroad personally"). He hopes more cross-generational collaborations will reinterpret neon through contemporary lenses—ensuring this luminous legacy not only endures locally but shines globally as art.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Cynthia Cheung; English Editor: Darius)
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