Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung
By now, you’re probably familiar with the eye-catching sculpture in Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung. The cheerful, mosaic-covered family of curvy shapes, called “Remembering Coral Reefs” appeared in the flowerbed between the slide and Man Yee Road with little fanfare a few months ago. We were curious about the story behind it.
By now, you’re probably familiar with the eye-catching sculpture in Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung. The cheerful, mosaic-covered family of curvy shapes, called “Remembering Coral Reefs” appeared in the flowerbed between the slide and Man Yee Road with little fanfare a few months ago. We were curious about the story behind it.
Turns out the sculpture is one of four art pieces commissioned as part of the Sai Kung District Council Public Art Project 2009. It’s the work of local artist Amos Liu Huaqiang, who has a ceramics studio in the village OLD TOWN?. He made the ceramic sculptures by hand and fired them in a traditional kiln.
Three other artworks have been erected in Tseung Kwan O: a modern bronze of a mother kissing her child and a wall mosaic of children playing have been erected in Po Hang Park, and a steel sculpture of a tennis ball bouncing through a puddle was placed in Po Tsui Park.
The project brief was to “showcase the unique and exotic beauty, the plentiful natural resources and the diverse cultural backgrounds of Sai Kung”. The aim was to create a vibrant, artistic atmosphere for residents and visitors – and we defy anyone to not be cheered by the bright pastel tones of the ceramic glaze.
Liu’s piece conveys an environmental message about endangered ocean life and aims to raise public awareness about Hong Kong’s polluted marine ecosystem. Those curvy shapes represent corals, with the colourful mosaics towards symbolising healthy coral and the bone-white lower section represents calcified coral remains.
Sai Kung’s waters are home to 94 species of coral, much of which is threatened by the nets of bottom-trawlers, which scrape along the seabed, smashing the delicate coral heads. A ban on the practice in Hong Kong waters comes into full effect late this year, following a ruling by the Legislative Council in May 2011.
