The gradual death of neon lights in Hong Kong
If you Google search the keywords “Hong Kong”, chances are that you will come across pictures of vibrant and flashy Neon lights. These Neon lights have been an intricate part of Hong Kong’s culture. Movies such as Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2047, Fallen Angels, 2046 and Chungking Express reflected the distinctive look of Hong Kong through neon lights. The soft diffusion of the light added a layer of aesthetics to the look of the film.
This trend was then also adapted by Japan in its anime series and films such as Ghost in the Shell. Even though Neon lights form an important part of Hong Kong’s identity, they are quickly disappearing. What is it so?
The 1970s was an era of golden age for Neon lights in Hong Kong. They were everywhere. There was a silent race to come up with the most captivating design to attract the attention of potential customers. As you would imagine, the designs for these lights got really sophisticated and really unique very quickly. Things were looking good for LED lights. Back then, my grandfather too insisted on having Neon lights installations for our family business. I remember watching the people coming in hordes to watch those Neon light installations. I was simply surprised at the ability of the glass to be malleable enough to bend in the letters of the name of my family business.
