RedBall Project debuts in HK with citywide installations and collabs

The RedBall Project is set to debut in Hong Kong from 6 to 15 December, featuring a giant red ball installation at 10 culturally significant locations across the city.

Created by artist Kurt Perschke in 2001, RedBall is a sculptural installation that travels globally, using cities as its canvas. Hong Kong will be the 48th stop on the artwork’s world tour, following cities such as Paris, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Tainan. As a free exhibition, RedBall Hong Kong seeks to invite participants to view the city with a fresh perspective.

During the exhibition period, the installation will pop up at a new location daily from 11am to 6pm, inviting pedestrians to engage with the artwork. Perschke visited Hong Kong in advance to scout and select the location, viewing this selection process as an integral part of the artwork's creation, according to the release.

"The RedBall is only an object, the performance is the joining of the site, audience and RedBall together, the combination of architecture and people’s energy,” he said.

On 6 December, RedBall Hong Kong will appear at Central Pier 10, wedging itself into the pier’s structure against the iconic harbour backdrop, encouraging visitors to consider the historically shifting Hong Kong coastline.

On 7 December, RedBall will bounce across the harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, integrating itself into Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA). The following day, on 8 December, it will head to West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), where art and culture flourish along the harborfront.

After that, RedBall will be showcased at the original site of the Hong Kong Cricket Club’s (HKCC) pitch on Chater Road on 9 December. This location served the HKCC for 124 years and is surrounded by buildings that represent the past, present, and future. RedBall will bounce across the harbour again to be wedged into the structure of Kowloon Public Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui where the magnificent view of the skyline changes almost every decade.

On 11 December, RedBall will arrive at Asia Society in Admiralty, a horizontal oasis in the midst of a vertical city while highlighting the revitalisation of heritage buildings in this culturally significant site of art, culture, and public art projects. Back in Central on 12 December, RedBall visits Jardine House where the artwork will be squeezed into the architecture surrounding Hong Kong's first skyscraper, best known for its circular windows.

To further engage with the audience, RedBall Hong Kong has collaborated with various local artists to create a unique cross-cultural art experience. For example, Humchuk, represented by Young Soy Gallery, and in collaboration with Ovolo Central will paint a mural responding to RedBall Hong Kong in his unique artistic style from 4 to 6 December.

In the spirit of public art engagement, Humchuk will also be stationed at WestK’s Art Park on 8 December to interact with pedestrians and patrons through live drawing sessions, which audience members can take home.

On the other hand, RedBall Hong Kong has partnered with various retail brands to curate themed activations. For example, Pacific Coffee will engage 10 of its selected cafes into a RedBall celebration with staff and servers fashioned with RedBall pins and customers who interact with the RedBall AR filter by INNSVX on the @redballproject Instagram can redeem a 10% discount code.

Taiwanese bubble tea brand TenRen’s Tea will also participate in the activation by launching takeaway cups featuring an illustrated RedBall. Additionally, from 9 to 12 December, customers wearing any red items will receive a size upgrade on their beverages.

“Public art makes us think differently about locations which we know and love – it’s about bringing new energy to the familiar. The RedBall Project invites locals and visitors to engage with the project and encourages people to interact, becoming part of the performance. It is an opportunity to re-explore Hong Kong’s unique architectural landscape and history. Local artists and brands have also come together to respond to RedBall Hong Kong in their own ways – this is the spirit of the artwork,” Perschke said. 

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