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From trash to art: Crowdsourcing and the bottom-up heritagisation of neon signs in Hong Kong
Author(s)
Date Issued
2025
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Citation
Mak, S. W. (2025). From trash to art: Crowdsourcing and the bBottom-up heritagisation of neon signs in Hong Kong. In Shim, H., Choi, S., Lee, W., Rii, H., & Kim, S. (Eds.). The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences, volume XLVIII-M-9-2025. 30th CIPA Symposium “Heritage Conservation from Bits: From Digital Documentation to Data-driven Heritage Conservation”, Seoul, Republic of Korea (pp. 957- 964). The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
Description
Open access
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Abstract. Despite growing interest, there is a lack of research on the impact of crowdsourcing and social media on heritage-making and conservation in post-colonial societies. To fill this gap, this article uses neon signs in Hong Kong as a case. It discusses the build-up of the artistic and heritage value of neon signs, which were formerly treated as ‘trash’ by the Hong Kong government, through a museum’s use of crowdsourcing to complement its existing collection and through local citizens’ social media networking activities. The article reveals a tension between the government, professions and local activists regarding the artistic and heritage value of neon signs and contributes to the debate on the meaning of heritage.
Availability at HKSYU Library
