Mysterious Human-Faced Sculpture Discovered Among Tree Roots in Causeway Bay
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong woman recently shared photographs on the social media platform Threads, revealing a startling discovery in the heart of Causeway Bay. The images show a sculpture of a closed-eye human face embedded within an intricate network of banyan tree roots growing from a stone wall behind the Morton Terrace bus terminal. The artwork has become nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding root system, creating an unsettling visual effect that has captivated and alarmed netizens alike. According to Google Street View historical imagery, this peculiar installation has been in place since at least June 2019, predating the recent viral attention by several years. The sculpture was reportedly originally white but has gradually blended with the natural tree roots, giving it an organic appearance that many find disturbing.
Key Points
- The mysterious sculpture is located on a stone wall behind the Morton Terrace bus terminal in Causeway Bay, embedded within a banyan tree's sprawling root system .
- A Hong Kong woman posted the discovery on Threads under the title "Quirky Human Faces" (Chin: 千奇百趣人頭面), drawing widespread attention to the hidden artwork .
- Google Street View imagery confirms the sculpture existed as early as June 2019, indicating it has been part of the urban landscape for at least seven years .
- The artwork was originally painted white but has been progressively covered by tree roots, merging with the natural environment over time .
- Netizens compared the unsettling appearance to the Stone Mask from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, with comments suggesting the location resembles "the entrance to another world" .
Why It Matters
This discovery highlights how urban art installations can take on unexpected and sometimes unsettling characteristics as they interact with natural growth over time. For Hong Kong, where green spaces are limited and urban development often intersects with mature trees, such encounters between artificial structures and organic growth may become increasingly common, prompting discussions about the preservation of both street art and the city's aging banyan trees .
This discovery highlights how urban art installations can take on unexpected and sometimes unsettling characteristics as they interact with natural growth over time. For Hong Kong, where green spaces are limited and urban development often intersects with mature trees, such encounters between artificial structures and organic growth may become increasingly common, prompting discussions about the preservation of both street art and the city's aging banyan trees .