60 “Seagulls” specially flew from Japan to Hong Kong and temporarily settled in Harbour City! The public art installation “Seagulls’ Port” created by renowned Japanese artist Takato Kimura has landed on the open-air plaza of Ocean Terminal. This is Kimura’s first exhibition of artworks in Hong Kong and also the first time his iconic “Kazamidori” (Wind Vane) series is exhibited outside of Japan. Since 2010, this series has been a permanent exhibit at the Setouchi Triennale, greatly loved by local residents and tourists. The 60 life-sized seagulls are neatly arranged by the Victoria Harbour, with their playful appearance and the picturesque view of the harbor, it is believed to attract many people to take photos.
“The Harbor of Seagulls” is a new work by Takahito Kimura from his classic “Kazamidori” series. It is not only a public art installation but also an interactive installation that allows people to interact with nature. He shared that the design inspiration for the “Kazamidori” series came from a chance encounter with a group of seagulls. At that time, they were neatly arranged on the shore, but when the sea breeze changed, they all changed their standing direction in unison, presenting a fascinating natural spectacle. He marveled at how seagulls know to face the wind to reduce resistance and immediately understood why ancient people used the shape of birds as a blueprint to make wind vanes. In this work, there are 60 seagulls printed on standing boards with a black-tailed gull pattern, just like a real flock of seagulls in the world, swaying left and right with the sea breeze.
Further reading:
- Han Hyo-joo, the Queen of Korean Dramas, Crosses Boundaries to Hold an Art Exhibition! With numerous acting roles and a passion for charity, the 44-year-old actress devotes herself to “art”?
- Ryuichi Sakamoto’s unwavering love for music, he personally selected the “funeral playlist” which is now officially released!
- The most comprehensive exhibition of Hong Kong film art and costume design! “Chungking Express,” “Ruan Lingyu,” and other super classic costumes are reproduced at the Cultural Museum
Takato Kimura specializes in creating mixed media and performance art. He has designed a series of artworks with the theme “Playing with the Earth,” using visual means to present intangible natural elements such as wind and sunlight, allowing the audience to “see the unseen” and interact with nature. Through a seagull-shaped wind vane, he makes the form of the wind visible, allowing people to experience the power of nature through art.
The “Wind Vane Series” of seagull works has been exhibited in multiple art exhibitions, including the “Mizu no Hakurankan” at the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art and the Aichi Triennale in Aichi Prefecture. The most well-known among them is undoubtedly the “Seagull Parking Lot,” which has been a permanent exhibit at the Setouchi International Art Festival since 2010. Rows of seagulls are neatly arranged on the breakwater of Nyonokushima, forming a unique and artistic installation that attracts many visitors and art enthusiasts to the island. This time, being able to admire this famous exhibit in Victoria Harbour, everyone passing by should remember to take a photo with these “seagulls” as a memento!
“Seagull’s Port” Public Art Installation @ Harbour City
Date: Starting from May 15, 2023
Location: Open-air Plaza of Harbour City Maritime Building
Image source and learn more: Harbour City
