When Hong Kong’s prosperity depended on designOnline exhibition celebrates the disappearing culture of neon signs

There was a saying that Hong Kong’s prosperity depended on design. Design in this context meant neon signs. This beautiful, nostalgic film on the dying craft of making such signs is part of an online exhibition celebrating Hong Kong’s neon signs.

Neon signs are a key feature of Hong Kong’s streetscapes, but they are rapidly being replaced with digital screens. M+, Hong Kong’s museum for visual culture, took the initiative to document the remaining signs with the help of the public. Over 4,000 photos were submitted to the website neonsigns.hk. Added to this are curatorially-produced essays, videos, slideshows and artist commissions to form a lasting record of this disappearing trade. See the film and realize why this exhibition was just in time. Additions are still being made on the corresponding Facebook page.