Happy Birthday Likeboxes by Hikoko Ito innovative art installation

Happy Birthday Likeboxes

Art Installation for Hong Kong Museum of Art

When was the last time you received or crafted a hand-drawn birthday card? Relive this joy with Hikoko's Happy Birthday Likeboxes, an art installation showcasing 366 illuminated mailboxes, each representing a day of the year. Their appearance, reminiscent of social media posts invites visitors to reflect on the often-impersonal nature of social media interactions and to create and share hand-drawn birthday cards with personal, heartfelt wishes. The installation enables the exchange of warm messages and personal creativity, spreading positivity and connecting people one card at a time.

Hikoko Ito 2024 Professional Bronze Press Kit № 156417

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Happy Birthday Likeboxes by Hikoko Ito

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Art Installation by Hikoko Ito

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Hikoko Ito Happy Birthday Likeboxes

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Utilize this 1800-pixel image at 300 DPI for sharp, detailed prints up to 6 inches. When your narrative requires larger images, deploying it at 150 DPI allows for clear, impactful visuals up to 12 inches. Press accreditation unlocks high-res images without watermarks. Need something now? Download a low-res image instantly. Please check the Image Credits Section for photo acknowledgements.

Hikoko Ito Art Installation

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

Utilize this 1800-pixel image at 300 DPI for sharp, detailed prints up to 6 inches. When your narrative requires larger images, deploying it at 150 DPI allows for clear, impactful visuals up to 12 inches. Unlock high-res, watermark-free images with press accreditation, or instantly download a low-res version today. For attribution details, see the Image Credits Section.

Unique Properties

The 366 illuminated mailboxes, each representing a day of the year, enable you to receive a hand-drawn birthday card from a previous visitor and create one for a future visitor, perpetuating a continuous chain of kindness. Adorned with intricate patterns that form visual puzzles, these mailboxes invite participants to uncover the hidden Chinese characters, unlocking the magic within. The joyous ritual of decoding patterns and exchanging birthday cards transforms each visit into a journey of discoveries and moments of special connection.

Production Technology

Materials: Plastic for Likeboxes, acrylic plates for patterns on doors of Likeboxes, LED lights, polyester wallcovering, brisl coated texture paper, ORACAL 651 adhesive patterns on glass walls, wood and steel for Postbox, wooden desks and chairs.

Design Challenge

There was skepticism regarding whether visitors would invest time in creating birthday cards for a stranger and if the quality of the contributions would be satisfactory. Serving dually as a social experiment, the installation's launch tested the altruism and community spirit of Hong Kong's residents. The resounding success and the positive reception of the installation and its subsequent variations in various Chinese cities and Paris have since affirmed the project's appeal across diverse age groups and cultures.

Project Duration

The project commenced in April 2023 and the inaugural exhibition of the art installation Happy Birthday Likeboxes debuted in July 2023 at the Chih Lo Lou Gallery on the 4th floor of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Originally scheduled to end in October 2023, the exhibition's popularity warranted an extension through January 2024. Capitalizing on this success, the museum inaugurated a second exhibition titled Happy Birthday Likeboxes in Sunlight on the 5th floor, commencing January 18th, 2024, which is anticipated to conclude on June 26th, 2024.

Operation Flow

1.Find Your Birthday Likebox that corresponds to your birth date. 2.Decipher the Pattern on its door and uncover the hidden Chinese character to unlock the magic of your Birthday Likebox. 3.Open Your Birthday Likebox. 4.Receive a Unique Birthday Card lovingly gifted by a previous visitor. 5.Select a Drawing Card with printed depiction of an artwork from the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection. 6.Create a New Birthday Card for another future visitor. 7.Send your card at the Post box. Selected works, over 2,500 up to Dec 20th, 2023) are photographed and featured on social media hblbhkmoa.

Research

Rooted in my humble family tradition of drawing birthday cards for my parents, Happy Birthday Likeboxes is a journey through joy and human connection. The adventure begins with the quest for one's unique Birthday Mailbox. This search and the exchange of hand drawn birthday cards transform every visit into an exploration and moments of special connection. Many visitors claimed to have been motivated to start creating birthday cards for their loved ones, extending the warmth & kindness experienced from the installation to their own family circles. By celebrating a universally shared and valued occasion - our birthday - the installation also brings people from various backgrounds, while promoting kindness and a Pay-it-forward mindset within the community.

Inspiration

Inspired by my family tradition of exchanging hand-drawn birthday cards, my art installation aims to recreate that joy for visitors, at the same time fostering a pay it forward spirit in the community. The Likeboxes resembling social media posts, encourage visitors to reflect on the often-impersonal nature of digital interactions and to instead create and share a hand-drawn birthday card infused with sincere, heartfelt wishes.

Project Overview

Happy Birthday Likeboxes Art Installation has been a Bronze winner in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Image Credits

For design images and photos please credit Hikoko Ito.

Bronze Recognition

Hikoko Ito was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Happy Birthday Likeboxes Art Installation.

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