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In recent collaborative project titled "TKL_WE_IMAGINED", Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and MTR Corporation joined hands to instil art in everyday commute by beautify wall surface and install seats in Tiu Keng Leng Station. Thoughtfully welded by HKDI students, a mural around 40-metre long and symbolises the iconic local architecture such as cabins and wooden houses (locally known as "pang uk") in Tiu Keng Leng is created. Another highlight of the installation is the functional seats inspired by different housing styles in the region, such as squatter houses, pang uks, and high-rise buildings, that have emerged over time and chronicle tell the community’s urban history.

Collaborating with MTR Corporation, HKDI participated in the “Art in MTR” initiative for Tiu Keng Leng Station, one of the interchange stations powering the city’s traffic. The goal of the initiative is to encourage students to acquire invaluable hands-on design experience and an immense sense of accomplishment. The project also encourages passengers to appreciate the community’s architecture and its evolving urban landscape.

Touring Tiu Keng Leng for Inspiration Turns Students into Locals
Although most HKDI students are no strangers to Tiu Keng Leng Station near the campus, the two student teams that participated in the art project with MTR developed a special memory after a year of ideating and creating the artworks.  With the objective of providing an in-depth understanding of the district’s dynamic changes dating back to the 1950s, the project meticulously involved a number of field trips to the streets of Tiu Keng Leng and hours of researches on history materials. Leveraging different media, including furniture, illustration, character design, environmental art and indoor installation, the students worked to create artworks that are unique, iconic, artistic, and practical. 
 
"I’ve come to rediscover Tiu Keng Leng from a historical perspective,” said Fung Nok-yiu, an HKDI student of Higher Diploma in Visual Communication who created the artwork Architectural Evolution. “After going through history books, photo archives, and architectural records from different eras, I realised that Tiu Keng Leng is a vessel of Hong Kong history. With this in mind, I created the mural in a graphic style to show the evolution of architecture in the community over the past century and reveal to the public the affluent history of Tiu Keng Ling.”

The team formed by students from HKDI’s Higher Diploma in Visual Communication programme behind the artwork The Transformation, namely, APO Kyra Lan, CHAN Chun-yu Andrea, CHAN Tsoi-yan, HO Siu-fung Ivan and LAW Mei-ting, shared their thoughts as well, “When we were wandering in Tiu Keng Leng for inspiration, we came across blocks after blocks of high-rise buildings. Only after looking at old photos did we realise that there used to be many “pang uks” and squatter houses along the coast. Through this design, we hope the community members can know more about the history of Tiu Keng Leng area.”

HKDI and MTR Collaborate to Empower Youth and Enhance Commute through Art
Since 1998, the MTR Corporation has integrated art into stations to enhance customer experience. Station spaces are utilised to inspire the public, contribute to the development of communities and enhance quality of life. Through the “Art in MTR” programme under the Community Connect platform, the artworks highlight the pride that HKDI and its students take in being a part of the Tiu Keng Leng community and Hong Kong at large. Their talents will build a bridge that brings the community and its people closer together.

 
The HKDI students made bold attempts throughout the cross-industry collaboration. From writing a project brief, pitching, presenting ideas, and making adjustments based on professional comments, to finalising the work, the students were involved in every step. The project’s goal is to help students acquire field experience before becoming creative professionals.