City Dress up : Seats • Together | Hong Kong

City Dress up :
Seats • Together

  • Category: Public Space & Architecture, Placemaking, Art & Culture, Story-telling & Communications, Design Thinking & Engagement

    Type: Outdoor | Exhibition

    Location: Happy Valley, Hong Kong

    Client: Art Promotion Office, HKSAR Government

    Completion: 2017

In In 2017, onebite proudly participated in the "City Dress Up - Seats Together" public art project, a delightful initiative by the Art Promotion Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Billy Tam, Joshua Lau, Brian Lee, Denise Chan, and Yip Chun-hang took the reins of this project. They invited talented up-and-coming artist teams to conjure up 20 sets of strikingly innovative seats. These weren not just designed objects - they were carefully crafted to resonate with the unique vibe of their respective districts in Hong Kong. The result is a beautiful blend of art and functionality that livened up the cityscape and fostered community spirit.

For three years, from July 2017 to July 2020, these artful pieces graced 20 open spaces maintained by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Picture them along waterfronts, in parks, leisure areas, and playgrounds.

Our contribution "Ting Ting" is inspired by the Chinese homonyms “聽．亭”, which translates to "listening pavilion", this piece was a nod to the soothing sounds of Happy Valley Recreation Ground. We wanted to offer a haven where busy Hongkongers could sit, relax, and tune into sounds often lost in the hustle and bustle of busyness. We created three pairs of chairs in lively blue, sunny yellow, and charming pink. Despite the common association of nature with green colour, we actually heard from several park visitors who picked the hues of the chairs, that green was a no-go because mosquitos are apparently attracted to it!

  • Our installations were not just about aesthetics. Placed at the popular Happy Valley Recreation Ground, they doubled up as sound sculptures and functional seating. Thanks to their unique parabolic dish design, whispers from one seat travelled crystal-clear to the corresponding one. No surprise then that young park goers adoringly called them “talking pods”!

    To add more flair to this initiative, the Art Promotion Office, in collaboration with artist groups, rolled out a series of attractive activities. These events, tailor-made for the respective art pieces, celebrated the local district's distinct charm and got the community buzzing with excitement.

    For instance, in early 2019, the gifted sound artist Fiona Lee took folks on a mesmerising journey through Happy Valley's soundscape. In March, these captured sounds became part of the “Echo of Happy Valley: Experience the Community Soundscape” installation right where "Ting Ting" stood. Visitors relished this rich tapestry of urban sounds and even tested the sound-capturing ability of our installation.

    Visitors were also treated to artwork tours, Himalayan Singing Bowl workshops, sketching contests, and more over the three years. Thanks to the "City Dress Up - Seats Together" programme, the Happy Valley Recreational Grounds transformed into a hub of art and science, capturing the imagination of many park-goers.

Let’s Sit & Talk!

  • The "City Dress Up - Seats Together" project was envisioned as more than just an artistic initiative. It was a catalyst for sparking art appreciation and bringing the arts to every Hong Kong resident.

    By integrating art seamlessly into everyday spaces, we hope Ting Ting can encourage urban dwellers to engage with their surroundings more thoughtfully. The installation redefined public spaces as arenas of connectivity and reflection, not just functionality. As residents interacted with "Ting Ting", they appreciate the importance of slowing down, listening attentively, and fostering mindfulness in a city that often races ahead.

    Additionally, we hope the communal nature of the installations - such as the sound collection ability of the chairs - could subtly nudge people towards greater engagement and communications. This increased sense of community involvement, at a time when urban loneliness is a rising concern, highlighted art's pivotal role in closing societal gaps and promoting mental well-being.

    Design for Good Values

    • Positive Impact

    • Reinvent Space

    • Co-create Resilience

    ESG/ Sustainability Factors

    • Workers
      - Health, Wellness & Safety

    • Community
      - Civic Engagement & Giving

    • Customers
      - Health & Wellness

    • Grand Award with Special Mention, DFA Design for Asia Awards 2018

  • Curator: Yip Chun-hang

    Visual Identity Designer: Going Merry Studio

    Photographer: Tai Ngai Lung

    One Biters: Alan Cheung, Jessie Lau, Sarah Mui, Suet Yan

  • #CityDressUp #SeatsTogether #placemaking #transform #publicfurniture #HappyValleyRecreationGround

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