Trendsetter:
A Lego replica of the giant rubber duck in Victoria Harbour has been added to the City Impression exhibition.
Trendsetter:
A Lego replica of the giant rubber duck in Victoria Harbour has been added to the City Impression exhibition.
City celebrity:
The duck has become a highlight of the City Impression exhibition.
City celebrity:
The duck has become a highlight of the City Impression exhibition.
Alternative teaching:
Lego is used to teach children about Hong Kong's history.
Alternative teaching:
Lego is used to teach children about Hong Kong's history.
Educational experience:
Andy Hung says Lego is a suitable tool for teaching children.
Educational experience:
Andy Hung says Lego is a suitable tool for teaching children.
Innovative elements:
City Gallery Senior Town Planner Jane Kwan says City Gallery uses visual arts to remind people of Hong Kong's wonders.
Innovative elements:
City Gallery Senior Town Planner Jane Kwan says City Gallery uses visual arts to remind people of Hong Kong's wonders.
Duck immortalised in City Gallery
May 26, 2013
The giant rubber duck gracing Victoria Harbour has become a popular attraction. Following this trend, City Gallery has placed a replica of the duck in its Lego model of Tsim Sha Tsui.
The past and present Tsim Sha Tsui models in the gallery's City Impression area use Lego to show how the popular shopping district looked in the 1970s, and how it looks today, recreating landmarks like the Star Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower.
The models' designer Andy Hung modifies the display to keep it current. After Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's giant rubber duck floated into Tsim Sha Tsui on May 2, Mr Hung replicated it with Lego to place in the model.
It has since become a highlight of the City Impression exhibition.
Educational experience
The gallery hosts several workshops for children to play with Lego, which is used as an educational tool.
Mr Hung and other Lego lovers teach the children how to make Hong Kong's classic "hot dog" buses out of the toy bricks.
The old unairconditioned buses were once an icon of Tsim Sha Tsui, serving the old train terminus which was redeveloped into the modern waterfront area in 1975. Mr Hung said making the bus models teaches the children about Hong Kong's history.
“We prefer using the bricks as a tool for teaching children, not only about making models, but about their society and surroundings, through the process of playing. Children like Lego, and they often pay more attention to Lego-related things.”
Located at Edinburgh Place (adjacent to City Hall) in Central, City Gallery allows visitors to look through a window and see the real Tsim Sha Tsui across the harbour, and compare the Lego model with the real thing.
Innovative elements
City Gallery also frequently updates other features.
The City Impression exhibition will change to the City Impression @ Neighbourhood show this summer, highlighting the features of Hong Kong’s different districts in various formats.
City Gallery Senior Town Planner Jane Kwan said busy Hong Kong people often do not notice the beautiful and fascinating things around them. The gallery uses visual arts to show the many different facets of the city, to remind people of Hong Kong's wonders.
“We will launch a series of activities, such as a photo competition, to encourage people to capture the wonderful scenes and interesting moments of Hong Kong with their camera.
"Painting workshops and clay model production workshops will also be held. Children can create their ideal Hong Kong scenes with paintbrushes and clay. Our target is to encourage teenagers and children to learn more about their city.”
A resource centre and a library will open in the coming months providing articles and books on Hong Kong's town planning and infrastructure.
A mobile application has been released, allowing users to easily access the gallery’s information. The app will also feature a game teaching children about the gallery.
For details on City Gallery, visit its
website.
