On the 20th March was actually our first day of exploring the North Point area. After an introduction by Alice Wong, curator of Sound Pocket Hong Kong, two artists guided us from Fortress Hill to North Point.

Following the rule of not speaking a single word during the walk, this allowed a more sensitive awareness of other sensorial impressions: such as noise and smell. Still the visual impact seems for our kinds of creative professionals to be the strongest in regard of influencing the experience of something new.

Quoting one of the participants, the city allows for very strong contrasts: While the main streets are tremendously noisy, the backyards and in between market niches allow a peaceful, you could say spiritual atmosphere.

In the discussion following the walk the two artists pointed out the implicit mutual content of Hong Kongers not to rush nor scream in the public area. Only thanks to this deeply rooted behavior a peaceful living in everyday life becomes possible. Sadly this understanding is not shared with most immigrants with different cultural background.

A group of foreign students that ‘behave’ nevertheless though has, as they visually unavoidably attract attention, a certain freedom to approach the local people and see behind the curtains.