Happy Birthday Likeboxes Kaho ea Bonono

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The 366 illuminated mailboxes, each representing a day of the year, enable you to receive a hand-drawn birthday card from a previous visitor and create one for a future visitor, perpetuating a continuous chain of kindness. Adorned with intricate patterns that form visual puzzles, these mailboxes invite participants to uncover the hidden Chinese characters, unlocking the magic within. The joyous ritual of decoding patterns and exchanging birthday cards transforms each visit into a journey of discoveries and moments of special connection.

Dimensions & Packaging

Main installation comprises of 366 Birthday Likeboxes 8445mm x 500mm x 1890mm;
Postbox
500mm x 500mm x 1300mm

Tags

Art Installation, Community Engagement, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, Happy Art, Connecting people

Production Technology

Materials: Plastic for Likeboxes, acrylic plates for patterns on doors of Likeboxes, LED lights, polyester wallcovering, brisl coated texture paper, ORACAL 651 adhesive patterns on glass walls, wood and steel for Postbox, wooden desks and chairs.

Design Challenge

There was skepticism regarding whether visitors would invest time in creating birthday cards for a stranger and if the quality of the contributions would be satisfactory. Serving dually as a social experiment, the installation's launch tested the altruism and community spirit of Hong Kong's residents. The resounding success and the positive reception of the installation and its subsequent variations in various Chinese cities and Paris have since affirmed the project's appeal across diverse age groups and cultures.

Research

Rooted in my humble family tradition of drawing birthday cards for my parents, Happy Birthday Likeboxes is a journey through joy and human connection. The adventure begins with the quest for one's unique Birthday Mailbox. This search and the exchange of hand drawn birthday cards transform every visit into an exploration and moments of special connection. Many visitors claimed to have been motivated to start creating birthday cards for their loved ones, extending the warmth & kindness experienced from the installation to their own family circles. By celebrating a universally shared and valued occasion - our birthday - the installation also brings people from various backgrounds, while promoting kindness and a Pay-it-forward mindset within the community.

Inspiration

Inspired by my family tradition of exchanging hand-drawn birthday cards, my art installation aims to recreate that joy for visitors, at the same time fostering a pay it forward spirit in the community. The Likeboxes resembling social media posts, encourage visitors to reflect on the often-impersonal nature of digital interactions and to instead create and share a hand-drawn birthday card infused with sincere, heartfelt wishes.

Project Duration

The project commenced in April 2023 and the inaugural exhibition of the art installation Happy Birthday Likeboxes debuted in July 2023 at the Chih Lo Lou Gallery on the 4th floor of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Originally scheduled to end in October 2023, the exhibition's popularity warranted an extension through January 2024. Capitalizing on this success, the museum inaugurated a second exhibition titled Happy Birthday Likeboxes in Sunlight on the 5th floor, commencing January 18th, 2024, which is anticipated to conclude on June 26th, 2024.

Operation Flow

1.Find Your Birthday Likebox that corresponds to your birth date. 2.Decipher the Pattern on its door and uncover the hidden Chinese character to unlock the magic of your Birthday Likebox. 3.Open Your Birthday Likebox. 4.Receive a Unique Birthday Card lovingly gifted by a previous visitor. 5.Select a Drawing Card with printed depiction of an artwork from the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection. 6.Create a New Birthday Card for another future visitor. 7.Send your card at the Post box. Selected works, over 2,500 up to Dec 20th, 2023) are photographed and featured on social media hblbhkmoa.