HOPARE'S "INDIGO MEMORIES"
Indigo Memories, a monumental installation by French artist Hopare, was a highlight of the HKwalls 2025 festival, exemplifying the power of cultural collaboration. Its concept began with an Instagram post by Hopare in December 2024, where he shared an artwork inspired by Lisbon’s balconies and the poetry of everyday objects like hanging laundry. The post spoke of transforming these mundane elements into profound symbols of identity, memory, and daily life. This idea resonated deeply with us at HKWALLS, who saw an opportunity to reinterpret the concept for a Hong Kong audience.
法國藝術家Hopare的巨型裝置「Indigo Memories」作為HKWALLS2025藝術節的焦點，完美體現文化協作的創造力。這件作品的創作概念始於2024年12月Hopare在Instagram上分享了一幅受里斯本陽台啟發的作品——他以晾曬的衣物等日常物件入詩，將平凡元素轉化為身份、記憶與生活況味的深刻符號。這份概念與HKWALLS團隊產生強烈共鳴，我們看見了為香港觀眾重新詮釋這件藝術品的可能。
Once we confirmed the 2025 festival would be held at PMQ, we started to envision adapting Hopare’s artistic philosophy to the façade of PMQ, a historic site that served as the Central School campus where Dr. Sun Yat Sen was also enrolled as a student in the 1884 and later served as the dormitory for the married police officers. The vast 700 m² façade offered a striking stage for a public installation that could connect intimately with local heritage while remaining globally relatable. Hopare’s approach of blending the ordinary with the symbolic fit seamlessly with this vision.
The project’s development involved several key stages. After reaching out to Hopare in December 2024, we secured the participation of PMQ’s Staunton Block tenants the month following, ensuring access to the building’s façade and laying the groundwork for the installation.
From January to March 2025, an intensive period of design development followed. This included selecting and testing fabric samples, exploring various printing techniques, and engineering a robust hanging system to ensure the artwork’s safety. These efforts showcased the collaborative spirit of the project, with teams in France and Hong Kong working closely together to bring the vision to life.
當確定2025藝術節將於PMQ元創方舉行後，我們即著手構思如何將Hopare的藝術哲想融入這座歷史建築的外牆。PMQ前身為1884年孫中山先生曾就讀的中央書院校舍，後期改作已婚警察宿舍。其700平方米的巨型外牆成為了一片絕佳的公共藝術載體——既能緊扣本地文脈，又具國際共鳴。Hopare「化日常為象徵」的創作手法，與此願景不謀而合。
計劃歷經多重關鍵階段：我們在2024年12月與Hopare接洽後的翌月即得PMQ A座的租戶支持，確保建築外牆使用權並奠定裝置基礎。
2025年1至3月進入密集設計期，期間我們進行了布料選樣測試、多種印刷技法的探索和選定，以及製作能夠確保作品安全的懸吊系統工程。這段期間，法國與香港團隊緊密協作，以跨地域的創作對話將構想化為現實。
In mid-March 2025, Hopare and his French team arrived in Hong Kong for the final phases of the project. They added finishing touches to the artwork, undertook fireproofing measures, and oversaw the assembly of the installation. Alongside this, an exhibition was installed at PMQ to document the creative journey of Indigo Memories, offering the public a deeper understanding of its conceptual and technical dimensions.
The public unveiling of Indigo Memories took place on 20 March 2025 and remained on display until 14 April 2025. Spanning 630 m² of fabric, the installation featured five portraits honouring individuals linked to PMQ’s history. These suspended pieces created a moving tribute to the architecture and site’s legacy as a space of connection and transformation, blending past and present narratives. The choice of indigo colour was particularly meaningful, evoking local traditions and universal aspirations while connecting to Hopare’s previous work in Lisbon.
2025年3月中旬，Hopare與法國團隊抵港開展計劃最終階段，為作品進行最後潤飾、執行布料防火處理，並監督裝置的最後組裝工序。同期於PMQ元創方策劃的展覽記錄了「Indigo Memories」的創作歷程，讓公眾深入理解作品的概念與製作細節。
「Indigo Memories」於2025年3月20日正式揭幕，展期至同年4月14日。這塊橫跨630平方米的布質裝置藝術品，以五幅肖像致敬與PMQ有著歷史淵源的人物。懸浮的布幔在外牆飄移、流動，以建築物的空間敘說這個地方的人情和轉變，交織歷史與當代的對話。Hopare選用的靛藍色調尤具深意——既呼應本地傳統靛染工藝與「香港精神」的普世共鳴，亦延續藝術家此前在里斯本的創作脈絡，以色彩編碼串連跨地域的集體記憶。
From 20 March to 27 April 2025, a behind-the-scenes exhibition ran at PMQ, allowing visitors to explore the process and philosophy behind Indigo Memories. This added dimension enriched the audience’s experience, highlighting the community effort involved in realising the project.
The installation stands as a shining example of cross-cultural collaboration, merging French artistry with Hong Kong’s cultural essence. More than twenty contributors, ranging from curatorial and production team to local artisans, came together to create something truly remarkable. By bridging geographic and cultural divides, Indigo Memories not only celebrated PMQ’s heritage but also demonstrated the transformative power of art to connect people and stories across boundaries.
2025年3月20日至4月27日期間，PMQ元創方同步舉行「Indigo Memories」幕後特展，讓觀眾深入探索作品的創作歷程與哲思。這場特展以多維視角深化大眾體驗，更突顯實現此計劃背後的社群協力精神。
此裝置藝術堪稱跨文化協作的璀璨典範——融合法國藝術美學與香港文化精髓。逾20位策展人、製作人及本地匠人共同成就非凡之作。「Indigo Memories」不僅致敬PMQ的歷史底蘊，更以藝術跨越地域疆界，展現串連人與故事的跨文化感染力。
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
2025 Festival Partners 藝術節合作夥伴
