Whilst in Hong Kong, I began analyzing the place as how I analyzed and dissected the elements in their iconography; the flag, the banknote and the stamp, in relation to public identity. Although the same method applied, the process was far more complicated as built environment has an intangible component which is not present in graphic design.
ICONOGRAPHY = GRAPHIC ELEMENTS + SIMPLIFIED REPRESENTATION
- local scene
- portrait
- symbology
- emblem
URBAN DESIGN = URBAN ELEMENTS + LIVING TISSUES (user)
- history - culture
- politics - behavior
- geography - movement
- infrastructure - adaptation
- social - usage of built environment
Thus, in addition to the urban elements which can be identified by close observation of the place, I also ponder on the following key points which may have characterized these elements as well as shaped the built environment:
1.
City's handover from the British to China with mixed feelings...
_ joy at first instance, sadness at seeing the British go
_ pride over returning to their motherland, apprehension over the future
2.
What happened over the past 10 years...
_ crippling regional financial crisis
_ bird flu, SARS
_ resignation of top officials over sundry scandals
_ the march of 0.5mil people galvanized by the opposition to a new security bill called Article 23
3.
Complex relationship...
_ Is Hong Kong a model for China or a treat?
_ Is Hong Kong changing China, or China changing Hong Kong?
_ Should Hong Kong be more Chinese or more International?
4.
Future challenges flow...
_ Who am I?
_ What do I want to be?
_ Can I be all I want to be?
IT'S ABOUT MANIFESTATION OF ONESELF... THE HONG KONG'S IDENTITY
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