In front of the main entrance to Hong Kong’s Conrad Hotel stands a cast-bronze statue created by the late American artist Kirk Newman. Completed in 1990, the statue portrays one of the artist’s favourite subject areas, exploring the complexities of people in the modern world.
The statue itself comprises 15 human figures, performing a variety of actions commonly seen in the city. Among the more eye-catching are a man performing tai chi, a tourist photographing skywards, and a businessman greeting an acquaintance while presumably rushing to his next meeting.
Despite its prestigious location in front of one of the city’s top hotels, the statue is on a section of road that doesn’t receive much foot traffic. Many guests arriving back to the Conrad likely ignore the statue to return to the comfort of their rooms.
But for fans of public art exploring Pacific Place or nearby Hong Kong Park, the “Hong Kong People” statue is worth a detour. While it remains unknown to many, this understated sculpture succinctly captures the bustling nature of daily life in the city.