Calligraphy or Graffiti?
Most Hong Kong residents have either seen or heard of the Tsang Tsou-choi 曾灶財, the self proclaimed King of Kowloon and his writings on the walls (refer blog post of 25 May 2011). He travelled extensively across Hong Kong , adding his decrees to many a wall and lamppost. Aesthetics was not his aim; instead he needed an outlet to express his outrage at being deprived of his rightful inheritance. So, was it art or an act of anarchy?
Ironically for him, no one took his claim seriously despite a 51 year long crusade. Instead, his graffiti was elevated to the status of art. He first started writing on walls in 1956 yet it was not until 1995 when he was prosecuted for the first time by police. He was fined $50 for writing graffiti in a car park of a building. Often, his writings were painted over but he would return and re-write his messages as soon as the paint dried. In general though, he was left to roam the streets with his black ink and brushes. His scribblings have even been called “mural pieces……….Hong Kong’s unique treasure of art .(1)” In fact in 2003, Tsang was the first Hong Kong artist to have been invited to the Venice Biennale. On 23 September of that year, Tsang’s calligraphy was nominated by Hong Kong’s English language daily the South China Morning Post as one of the “Top 25 Reasons to Love Hong Kong”.
Tsang’s reputation as an artist was cemented when Sotheby's auctioned a board painted by him for $55,000. After his death, an acrylic on canvas calligraphy by Tsang went under the hammer at Sotheby’s for $500,000 in 2009.
Tsang enjoyed an iconic status. In addition to the various art exhibitions he also made guest appearances in two local films – Queen of Kowloon and Lavender. Tsang’s work even inspired a TV commercial. In the commercial for a household cleaner, Swipe, he cleans away his permanent ink graffiti with Swipe. He also attracted the attention of the likes of Hong Kong lifestyle brand G.O.D (t-shirt using Tsang’s art), toy manufacturer Dragon Models Limited (Hong Kong Brand used Tsang’s calligraphy as its logo) and Converse (shoe design based on his writing style).
There is struggle to preserve Tsang’s writing as they are on public installations. After his death, many people took photographs of his writings. Many worried that the government would “clean up” his writings. His graffiti is now on the official list of “Hong Kong identity symbols to be protected.” For example, one at the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier has been sprayed over with a clear protective layer.
So, is Tsang Tsou-choi an artist? Evidently, many think so. In an interview with Colors, Tsang had this to say “I don’t care about money and fame. They should just give me back the throne. I am not an artist - I am simply the King”. He also said “Emperors in China have always been calligraphers.”
(1) Catalogue – Memories of King Kowloon exhibition by Artistree
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
The King of Kowloon 九龍皇帝
King or lunatic?
This is one of the questions you face when you consider the life of Hong Kong citizen Tsang Tsou-choi 曾灶財. Originally named Tsang Choi, he was born in Liantang village, Guangdong province on 12 November 1921. He came to Hong Kong at 16, lived with his uncle Sin Bak in Yuen Long and made a living as a peasant. He had also worked as a pipe-cleaner, coolie and garbage collector. He married Leung Fuk-choi who was 15 years his junior and they had 4 daughters and 4 sons.
Tsang started his street calligraphy in 1956, at the age of 35. Tsang had only 2 years of schooling, so in terms of calligraphy, his script was idiosyncratic perhaps even crude. He was definitely prolific – his writings could be seen on building walls, lampposts, utility boxes and other public property around Hong Kong. Over a period of 51 years until his death in 2007, it is estimated that he produced 55,845 pieces of work at 80 locations over Hong Kong. He’d even written on the walls and curtains of his home. Even the clock and his huxiang zheng "home return permit” were covered with his writings. So what drove this man to such passion and why was he allowed to continue?
Looking at his writings, one certainly gains a sense of rage and injustice. This was a man with an obsession. Tsang was convinced that most of the land of Kowloon belonged to his ancestors. One version was that his great grandfather Tsang Gwong-jing, was a prime minister in the Zhou Dynasty and owned a lot land in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong had become a British colony, he complained that his ancestor’s land had been appropriated by the British. Thus began his gripe against the authorities. His writings usually included his name, his title九龍皇帝 “King of Kowloon”, his family tree and the statement “Down with the Queen of England”.
Tsang was arrested several times for his graffiti but remarkably, he was usually only given a warning or a small fine. For example, on 18 August 2001, Tsang wrote his ancestral record on a stone pillar at the Star Ferry Pier. He was taken away for questioning and later released unconditionally. On 22 September 2002, Tsang was prosecuted and fined $500 for painting in the vicinity of Jardine House in Central. This was the last prosecution on record.
His two eldest daughters had emigrated to Britain and Holland. Tsang was proud of their settling abroad. His Majesty proclaimed “At least she can meet Queen Elizabeth and settle the dispute with me one day, and talk her into returning to me the Kowloon illegally occupied by Britain.”
Next - Calligraphy or graffiti? Art or defacement?
From now till 31 May 2011, you need not travel around Hong Kong to view the King of Kowloon’s “art”. There is an exhibition at ArtisTree, 1/F Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, Island East (free admission).
This is one of the questions you face when you consider the life of Hong Kong citizen Tsang Tsou-choi 曾灶財. Originally named Tsang Choi, he was born in Liantang village, Guangdong province on 12 November 1921. He came to Hong Kong at 16, lived with his uncle Sin Bak in Yuen Long and made a living as a peasant. He had also worked as a pipe-cleaner, coolie and garbage collector. He married Leung Fuk-choi who was 15 years his junior and they had 4 daughters and 4 sons.
Tsang started his street calligraphy in 1956, at the age of 35. Tsang had only 2 years of schooling, so in terms of calligraphy, his script was idiosyncratic perhaps even crude. He was definitely prolific – his writings could be seen on building walls, lampposts, utility boxes and other public property around Hong Kong. Over a period of 51 years until his death in 2007, it is estimated that he produced 55,845 pieces of work at 80 locations over Hong Kong. He’d even written on the walls and curtains of his home. Even the clock and his huxiang zheng "home return permit” were covered with his writings. So what drove this man to such passion and why was he allowed to continue?
Looking at his writings, one certainly gains a sense of rage and injustice. This was a man with an obsession. Tsang was convinced that most of the land of Kowloon belonged to his ancestors. One version was that his great grandfather Tsang Gwong-jing, was a prime minister in the Zhou Dynasty and owned a lot land in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong had become a British colony, he complained that his ancestor’s land had been appropriated by the British. Thus began his gripe against the authorities. His writings usually included his name, his title九龍皇帝 “King of Kowloon”, his family tree and the statement “Down with the Queen of England”.
Tsang was arrested several times for his graffiti but remarkably, he was usually only given a warning or a small fine. For example, on 18 August 2001, Tsang wrote his ancestral record on a stone pillar at the Star Ferry Pier. He was taken away for questioning and later released unconditionally. On 22 September 2002, Tsang was prosecuted and fined $500 for painting in the vicinity of Jardine House in Central. This was the last prosecution on record.
His two eldest daughters had emigrated to Britain and Holland. Tsang was proud of their settling abroad. His Majesty proclaimed “At least she can meet Queen Elizabeth and settle the dispute with me one day, and talk her into returning to me the Kowloon illegally occupied by Britain.”
Next - Calligraphy or graffiti? Art or defacement?
From now till 31 May 2011, you need not travel around Hong Kong to view the King of Kowloon’s “art”. There is an exhibition at ArtisTree, 1/F Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, Island East (free admission).
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