Police probe damage to Tai Kwun artwork
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police are investigating suspected criminal damage at Tai Kwun, the revitalised heritage complex at 10 Hollywood Road in Central, after part of the public artwork Waiting Pavilions by Polish contemporary artist Alicja Kwade was found damaged . The affected piece was a white metal bench supporting a large stone, which was later found separated and lying on the ground near the exhibition area by the prison yard close to Exit D14 . Tai Kwun security staff discovered the damage during a patrol early on Sunday morning, and a security manager later reported the case to police at 11.29am . Officers have classified the case as criminal damage and are searching for a foreign man aged about 30 to 40 who was wearing a black top and dark trousers .
Key Points
- The damaged work is part of Waiting Pavilions, a public art installation by Polish artist Alicja Kwade displayed inside Tai Kwun in Central .
- Police said the case was reported by a security manager surnamed Lam at 11.29am on Sunday at 10 Hollywood Road .
- Security staff on routine patrol at 7.16am found the stone and white bench separated, with the stone lying on the ground .
- CCTV allegedly showed a foreign man forcefully shaking the artwork at about 8.48pm on Saturday, causing it to topple and split apart .
- The installation was estimated to be worth about 70,500 euros, or roughly HK$593,000, and the damaged area has been cordoned off .
Why It Matters
The case concerns not only property damage but also harm to an artwork that incorporates original stones from the former Victoria Prison outer wall preserved during Tai Kwun’s conservation project . For Hong Kong readers, it raises questions about protecting valuable heritage-linked public art in open cultural venues while keeping them accessible to visitors .