cultural branding?
Cultural Triangle in Central & Place Identity
The major criticism of this project is that, it seems the government wants the PMQ becomes the cultural branding of Hong Kong. For example, they connect PMQ with other two buildings (Central Police Station as the manifest of British colonial power & Central Market as a cultural exchange between West and East) to form a cultural triangle. And it is expected to be the landmark of central "by modernizing the cultural heritage as a combination of lifestyle, work and creativity" [1].
This shows how heritage creates the spatial identity through revitalization and attracting people to stay and experience the culture.
To a broader sense, the place identity produced by this cultural triangle can be extended to the cultural image of Hong Kong as well, which is the creative side of life", as stated by some foreign visitors in the PMQ.
The major criticism of this project is that, it seems the government wants the PMQ becomes the cultural branding of Hong Kong. For example, they connect PMQ with other two buildings (Central Police Station as the manifest of British colonial power & Central Market as a cultural exchange between West and East) to form a cultural triangle. And it is expected to be the landmark of central "by modernizing the cultural heritage as a combination of lifestyle, work and creativity" [1].
This shows how heritage creates the spatial identity through revitalization and attracting people to stay and experience the culture.
To a broader sense, the place identity produced by this cultural triangle can be extended to the cultural image of Hong Kong as well, which is the creative side of life", as stated by some foreign visitors in the PMQ.
Above video: How the people in a foreign nation, i.e. Singapore, receive information about PMQ via popular media (TV) and form their cultural imagination about HK
Another SOHO night market?
On the other hand, in terms of geographical location, PMQ is near to the SOHO district, which is full of restaurants. It makes people suspect whether the government wants to create another SOHO market for the tourist-gaze. Actually from the night market organized in the past few months, we see the Halloween party and beer festival.
Another SOHO night market?
On the other hand, in terms of geographical location, PMQ is near to the SOHO district, which is full of restaurants. It makes people suspect whether the government wants to create another SOHO market for the tourist-gaze. Actually from the night market organized in the past few months, we see the Halloween party and beer festival.
To a certain extent these night markets exhibit a sense of creativity, but somehow this dance performed outside PMQ in the Youtube video to me, was just like an expansion of the scale of Halloween Party from Lan Kwai Fong to PMQ.
A direction of heritage revitalization to suit cultural complexity?
Lastly, because the PMQ is situated in the Hollywood road, and the street is culturally diverse (like the Man Mo Temple 文武廟 represents a traditional Chinese folk religion while the Central Police Station indicates the British colonial power), the direction of the PMQ revitalization is somehow made to suit the cultural complexity of the Hollywood road. So PMQ is revitalized as a creative, innovative center to present another cultural imagination of Hong Kong.
A direction of heritage revitalization to suit cultural complexity?
Lastly, because the PMQ is situated in the Hollywood road, and the street is culturally diverse (like the Man Mo Temple 文武廟 represents a traditional Chinese folk religion while the Central Police Station indicates the British colonial power), the direction of the PMQ revitalization is somehow made to suit the cultural complexity of the Hollywood road. So PMQ is revitalized as a creative, innovative center to present another cultural imagination of Hong Kong.
A Short Conclusion
During the revitalization process, the Hong Kong government focuses more on the contemporary value of the heritage, and it makes use of PMQ as a platform to nurture talents. In a way it constructs a creative cultural image that is beneficial to the HK society as a whole.
However, as the PMQ has a short year of operation, we will expect improvement in the future. It is hoped 同心基金 can achieve its goals in its proposal, like what the above picture depicts, that it really encourages talents, cultural diversity and eventually becomes a solid ground for the local HK culture too.
[1] "倡中環三角文化區 保育古蹟", 蘋果日報, 2009年12月11日, 擷取自: http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20091211/13512665
During the revitalization process, the Hong Kong government focuses more on the contemporary value of the heritage, and it makes use of PMQ as a platform to nurture talents. In a way it constructs a creative cultural image that is beneficial to the HK society as a whole.
However, as the PMQ has a short year of operation, we will expect improvement in the future. It is hoped 同心基金 can achieve its goals in its proposal, like what the above picture depicts, that it really encourages talents, cultural diversity and eventually becomes a solid ground for the local HK culture too.
[1] "倡中環三角文化區 保育古蹟", 蘋果日報, 2009年12月11日, 擷取自: http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20091211/13512665