"Fly the Flyover01" opens to public (with photos)
The "Fly the Flyover01", a new informal art and cultural venue built for music, art and cultural events or exhibitions, opens to the public today (January 20). Its open-style design creates an environment that is both relaxing and enjoyable for the public to visit.
Officiating at an opening ceremony to mark the completion of construction work, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing, said that the vacant land under the flyover was often used for temporary purposes such as site offices or storage. The "Fly the Flyover Operation", initiated by the Energizing Kowloon East Office (EKEO) of the Development Bureau, seeks to unleash the potential of the fenced-off land underneath Kwun Tong Bypass and open it up for public enjoyment.
The EKEO was inspired by ideas from an artist workshop held in July 2012 to suggest better uses for the fenced-off land. With the support from Architectural Services Department and its design and construction team, the design and construction works of "Fly the Flyover01" were completed within six months. The Drainage Services Department, Water Supplies Department, Transport Department, Highways Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department along with China Light and Power Company Limited also provided assistance to help complete the project within such a short period of time.
Some basic facilities are provided in the venue, for example, a performing stage, a dressing room, general lightings and toilets. The design is simple, making use of the industrial elements in Kwun Tong.
In addition to "Fly the Flyover01", Tsun Yip Street Playground, Hoi Bun Road and Kwun Tong Promenade, wilo be progressively modified to facilitate the organic transformation of Kowloon East to an energetic and vibrant place with an artistic flavour. During the transformation, the EKEO will continue to communicate and interact with the community and respond to the stakeholders' needs to make this area shine again.
The local percussion group "4 Gig Heads" and a team of young members from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups led a march-in before the ceremony. The "4 Gig Heads" used modified oil barrels as drums to perform their new piece of music specifically composed for the venue. The reused oil barrels and a 40-metre graffiti wall, repainted by a group of artists and youngsters from the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association, bring out the characteristics of this industrial area and reveal a passion for its future development. The oil barrels will be installed along the venue boundary as bollards.
Another art installation - a series of benches made of old wood pallets and designed by graduates and students from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong - sits at the venue along with other furniture installations designed and produced by some young designers.
Ends/Sunday, January 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:36
NNNN
Back
Press Releases
