Czech artist hopes to carve into the city’s waterfront promenade

BY VERONIKA TOMANON

Tsim Sha Tsui’s iconic coastline may be transformed if the 124 permanent sculptures by Mr Emil Adamec received permission from the authorities to be erected.

This is part of his global project – Acupuncture of Earth, which is inspired by Chinese medicine. Mr Adamec is trying to reconnect the energy flow on earth with his works and the idea of Sculpture Promenade is the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

His ambitions are high but whether it will succeed depends on if his application is approved. The plan is to create a series of sculptures, each being two to three metres high that would be visible from the sky. Participating artists are renowned sculptors from 120 countries including China, covering 1. 5 km along the seafront, including Avenue of Stars.

Now as a world-class sculptor with sculptures erected in 25 countries, Mr Ademac did not want to become a sculptor when he was a child. His passion was painting: “I was very introverted, always on my own. I spent most of my time in nature painting landscapes and birds.”

He got much closer to sculptures during the third year of his university studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Mr Ademec was interested in Taoism around the same time and decided to travel to China to find a master who would teach him the philosophies.

“Instead of a master, I found my future wife,” laughs Mr Adamec.

The beginning of his lifelong project started out in China’s Changchun Sculpture Park, where he created his first sculpture - a fountain - from stone. Now, 15 years later, Acupuncture of Earth consists of more than 100 monuments from all around the world including Czech Republic, Australia and Hong Kong.

Mr Victor Tai Sheung-shing, president of the Hong Kong Sculpture Society, supports Sculpture Promenade even though some might find it absurd.

“Some people may think that such a project would be impossible, however, didn’t most people also think in the same way about the ‘Acupuncture of Earth’ project,” says Mr Tai.

Mr Adamec already has two sculptures in the city - Rainbow Cloud and Wetland Heart Cloud. The second sculpture was made during the Hong Kong International Sculpture Symposium led by him in 2008. As a result, ten statues were created in Tin Shui Wai Park.

Mr Ng Chi-man, who lives nearby, is a frequent visitor: “I pass the statues quite often with my family. Sometimes we stop and try to explain the meaning to our children. Sculptures are different during the day and at night. One day we saw the shadow of the dragon here.”

Some people see art and sculptures as a rich person’s hobby but Mr Ademac does not agree. “My works are not created for private collectors or galleries,” he says. “They are for public places, for everyone.”

All his creations are drapery sculptures in abstract forms made from wood and stone. His style is unique.

“No one else uses this technique and that’s why I don’t even have to sign my works,” says Mr Ademac.

He believes that his statues are helping earth’s energy flow and Mr Tai agrees. “Emil’s determination to heal the earth with sculpture shows his heart and commitment to art and to people regardless of race or nationalities.”

EDITED BY CARRIE CHENG