All aboard Hong Kong’s first Arts Train

The colourful carriages feature street art, neon and classic portraits

Hong Kong’s major public railway service has been transformed into a moving gallery, with the introduction of a pop-up Arts Train.

Launched in conjunction with the city’s Art Month – which runs from 1-31 March – the decorated carriages appear on the MTR’s Island Line.

Taking inspiration from local street art, Chinese art and Western art, travellers on the colourful service can engage with the works through augmented reality (AR), and even have the opportunity to place themselves front and centre in some pieces using a face-swap function on their mobile phone.

Passengers on the route will be transported through five different zones which aim to highlight and celebrate Hong Kong’s art scene.

With neon playing an integral role in the city’s glittering cityscape, it makes sense that one zone is dedicated exclusively to this medium. A neon gallery pays homage to the layered signage of the city’s busy Nathan Road in the 1970s and 1980s, complete with local catchphrases.

Like many other cities around the world, street art is a growing trend in Hong Kong. One of the city’s most popular artworks by local artist Alex Croft, featuring a colourful display of the city’s old buildings, has been replicated in the Arts Train.

Moving through the carriages, travellers can also enjoy a Porcelain Gallery – which includes Hong Kong attractions captured as Chinese porcelain style pieces – and a Cantonese Opera carriage, which features traditional characters such as Monkey King and Princess Changping.

The final carriage is devoted to portraiture, with classic works reproduced, such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Andy Warhol’s portrait of Frida Kahlo.

Dawn Page, director of UK and Northern Europe for Hong Kong’s Tourism Board, said: “Arts Train is a new way for visitors to experience Hong Kong’s vibrant and exciting art scene.

The neon zone (Hong Kong Tourism Board)

“The train is the city’s first mobile gallery on tracks, and we are excited to close Arts Month 2019 with this exhibition.”

The exhibition runs until 27 March 2019.