Tai O Heritage Hotel has joined hands with local father-son artist duo Fei Wong and Alex Wong and the community to present auspicious community art installation, Spinning Good Wishes for the Year of Rabbit, extending hearty wishes and celebrating the Lunar New Year with the community. Comprising 268 windmills and eight colourful mini rabbits hand painted by Tai O students and hotel volunteers, the art piece brings cheer and blessings for the most important festival for the Chinese community.
Windmill connotes ‘movement of the heaven and earth’, and symbolises fortune, happiness and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. Spinning Good Wishes for the Year of Rabbit comprises 268 windmills, which implies ‘double happiness’ and ‘infinity’, the auspicious art piece brings joy and fortune to the neighbourhood. In addition, drawing inspiration from the vibrant art installation, hotel volunteers have joined hands with students at Tai O Primary School to hand paint mini rabbits, bringing a unique community art piece to life with their creative strokes.
Spinning Good Wishes for the Year of Rabbit is one of the art installations in the third phase of ArtWalk@Tai O, a public art programme initiated by the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation and Tai O Heritage Hotel to bring arts to the community. During the first two phases, ten murals were set up at various locations of the picturesque village, celebrating the charm and character of Tai O.
Tai O Heritage Hotel, converted from the Old Tai O Police Station built in 1902 and designated as a Grade II historic building, seeks to preserve the historical significance of the architectural gem. Operated as a not-for-profit social enterprise with surpluses used to support site maintenance, the hotel has been working closely with the community to promote eco-tourism since opening in March 2012. It has welcomed more than 1.7 million visitors from Hong Kong and overseas, and have participated in more than 100 community services.
‘It is our great pleasure to work with Tai O Heritage Hotel to present Spinning Good Wishes for the Year of Rabbit to celebrate this most important tradition with the community. Drawing inspiration from windmill, a symbol of fortune in the Chinese culture. The other component, comprising eight colourful mini rabbits hand painted by students at CCC Tai O Primary School and hotel volunteers, highlights the coherence between Tai O Heritage Hotel and the community’ remarks Alex Wong.
‘Tai O Heritage Hotel is a committed member of the Tai O community. We are delighted to join hands with the artists, Tai O students and volunteers to celebrate the most important occasion for the Chinese community in a unique and auspicious way. I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to our partners for the support, and colleagues’ good efforts to build a better community together. May I take this opportunity to wish all a happy, healthy and blessed Year of the Rabbit,’ remarks Mr Daryl Ng, SBS, JP, Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation.
