Underground

Born and brought up in Iran, I have always witnessed lack of freedom of expression in social, cultural and political matters; and how people have used different means of manifestation to shout out their beliefs and mentality regarding the society in which they live. These social movements have always been unpleasant for a certain group who surprisingly are the most powerful in terms of "control". 

When Mahtab and I were exploring Hong Kong to get an understanding of its artistic and social domain, we came up with an underground group of artists. They were three artists in their 20s, each with a certain field of interest, but all have a common concern about the Chinese society and how it is governed. One of them was a graffiti artist who has chosen tattooing as a financial support for his main interest, with his studio based in an industrial building in Kwun Tong district. The reason he and some fellow artists have chosen this area is the cheap rents and of course being remote and inaccessible as the nature of underground art asks for. 

As we talked more about the social aspects of their art, we all felt a common sense about our backgrounds, situation and hopes. We are all the young generation from developing countries with dictatorial systems, who are wide-awake about the global village and can no more be tricked and kept silent. The interesting thing about this fact is that no matter which country we are from, we have all chosen to object and manifest through art. It is at this point that the boundaries disappear.

After leaving their studio, I was experiencing a feeling of pleasance and grief at the same time. Why we are always being controlled in our societies; and what a hopeful movement towards our goals! 

graffiti in the industrial district

Kwun Tong

the studio

NEON

Talking about my obsession of Hong Kong, I was amazed by its numerous neon signs, hanging from the dark background of inelegant facades. These signs are more than advertisement elements in the city; they add a mental and cultural layer to it. A layer which becomes surreal, creating a 3D space overwhelmed by brightness. Streets of HK are so much lit up with these lights and colors that it has become an identity for the city. It has definitely influenced people's lifestyle, as the city is famous for its never-sleeping habits.


Being exposed by these still and flashing lights is an unforgettable experience. When I first saw HK, I was fascinated by this glamorous and joyful play of lights. 


Above their visual effects, these lights reflect an economic mentality. The businessmen and shopkeepers are competing for more audience, more profit. They need to expose their business to people who may not be interested in their services. Hong Kong has chosen this kind of advertisement overload. And it seems to be effective. This city is becoming more and more financially successful from a global point of view. This success is certainly exclusive to a low percentage of its residence; but it is this small portion of the society that projects the image of the city.


Busy streets of Mongkok, lined up with shops of every size, offer everything from food to clothes and electronics. Streets take on a new appearance when sun goes down. A different kind of chaos is seen during the night, with some streets closed to the cars, opening up the way for large crowds of not-so-real customers. Stalls are put up and ready for bargaining. All this liveliness can not be defined without the lights from the shops and signs. It is dazzling the way they decorate the streets.