Dr. MAK Sau WaLee, Kelly Ka-lamKelly Ka-lamLee2025-11-212025-11-212025In Nomeikaite, L., & Haldrup, M. (Eds). (2025). Arts, heritage and performative politics (pp. 151-163). Edward Elgar Publishing.97810353210709781035321087http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/26136Recently, the demolition of half-century-old iconic neon signs – a newfound form of art and heritage in Hong Kong – has attracted the attention of visual art and sociolinguistic scholars. Engaging with critical heritage studies and actor network theories, this chapter aims to better understand the heritagisation process through which human and non-human actor networks enable new forms of heritage performance that are individual and visual in nature. Employing participant observation and digital ethnography, it explores demolition cases of neon signs that brought together experts and non-experts. These actors engaged in knowledge production by documenting local history, advocating for the signs’ protection, constructing new heritage values and discourses and building post-colonial identity within the evolving sociopolitical context. The study concludes that heritage knowledge and authorised aesthetics are shaped and co-produced by both experts and ordinary citizens throughout the heritagisation process.enVisual ArtHeritage PerformanceActor Network TheoryAuthorised AestheticsConservationPost-Colonial IdentityBook Chapter10.4337/9781035321087.00022