**********************************************************
The City Art Square at Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza displays 19 uniquely-styled creative sculptures and public art installations by renowned local and international artists and designers.
A guided tour, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be held next month to enhance visitors' knowledge of the exhibits. The public can also try the new "dood me co" service to access information on the exhibits.
The free tour, conducted in Cantonese, will be held in two sessions, with 25 people each, at 2.30pm and 4.15pm on December 18 (Saturday). The President of the Hong Kong Sculpture Society, Mr Victor Tai, will explain details and characteristics of the exhibits to the participants.
Enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis can be made by calling 2694 2560, starting from Monday (November 8) during office hours.
A professional architect, Mr Tai has received numerous awards including a prize from the Philippe Charriol Foundation Annual Arts Competition, the 20:21 Emerging Hong Kong Architects Award, the Freeman Foundation Asian Artists Fellowship Award and a Nominated Entry Certificate from the Taiwan International Wood Sculpture Competition. He was also the chief editor and co-author of the "Guide to Urban Sculpture in Hong Kong". He has delivered many talks, including participating in seminars and promoting urban sculpture and public arts in news media, television programmes and guided tours.
The new "dood me co" is now in service. Public can use supported 3G mobile phones to download the "dood me co reader", to receive information on art exhibits and to enjoy the audio guide service.
The unique City Art Square is a product of the 2008 beautification project of Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza, managed by the LCSD. With an area of approximately 190,000-square-foot and exhibits in different parts, City Art Square offers an artistic and elegant ambience to the public area. It has won numerous local and international design and architectural awards, including the 2008 Cityscape Architectural Award and the Quality Building Awards.
The sculptures and public art installations include the vibrant fibreglass sculpture by internationally known architect Zaha Hadid, and a work by MacArthur Genius Award winner Chinese artist Xu Bing, fusing Chinese calligraphy and modern design. There is also a mosaic across the Plaza in the theme of the Chinese Peony by fashion designer Vivienne Tam and a pair of wedding rings by top American artist Dennis Oppenheim, located near the Marriage Registry to bless new couples.
Works by new local artists adding to the creativity can also be found in City Art Square. These artists include Sara Tse, Mok Yat-san and Man Fung-yi from Fotanian and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, James Law and well-known architectural designer Barrie Ho. A design full of bauhinias and windmills, by Swedish Nina Jobs, lines the pedestrian footbridge.
For information on City Art Square, please visit the Sha Tin Town Hall¡¦s website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/stth.
Ends/Friday, November 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:12
NNNN
