HONG KONG, May 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Buddy Bears Exhibition,a major public art event to be held in Hong Kong for the first time, will be officially opened Saturday at the Central Lawn of Victoria Park.
One hundred and twenty Buddy Bears painted by artists from all over the world will form a huge circle with a diameter of 65 meters, delivering the message of love, peace and solidarity. The exhibition will be held from May 16 to June 27 without admission fee.
"Displaying the bears at Victoria Park, a place Hong Kong people are so familiar with, not only beautifies the environment, but also shows the public how art can be incorporated into daily life," a spokesman from Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department said.
Renowned local designer Kan Tai-keung named his Buddy Bear "Color and Ink". "The right side of the bear is made up of changingcolors, reflecting the artistic style of the West. Its left side is composed of water and ink, demonstrating the Chinese painting style of liberal interpretation. These two cultures become one in contrasting with each other," he explained.
To encourage public participation, a series of fringe activities will be held at the showground: African drum music, Bouncy Castle, Bear Coloring, and handicrafts workshops.
In addition to the appreciation of the masterpieces from different countries, the public can participate in a variety of fringe activities and competitions, including Facing Painting, Cloth Bears Workshop, Buddy Bears Painting Workshop, Buddy Bear Story Telling Corner, Bear Puppets Workshop, Clay Bears Workshop, Bear-Go-Round Workshop, Buddy Bears Design Competition and Story Book Design Competition.
The exhibition is organized by Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and Buddy Bear Berlin and assisted by the Tourism Commission, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Hong Kong.
The exhibition will also help raise funds for the Hong Kong Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund, the Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.