Interview about Happy Birthday Likeboxes Art Installation, winner of the A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award 2024
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.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn today's fast-paced world, the personal touch of creating or selecting a birthday card and crafting a heartfelt message has sadly diminished, often replaced by the expedient yet impersonal act of sharing generic, copy-and-paste greetings on social media—as if it is just another item to tick off our to-do lists. Through my "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES" installation, which merges the form of traditional mailboxes with the contemporary aesthetics of prevalent social media, I aim to prompt visitors to contemplate the evolution of our communications and recognize the precious elements we've lost along the way. My hope is that this installation will ignite a resurgence of more thoughtful and meaningful personal interactions, beginning with the simple act of creating birthday cards, for a stranger.
Firstly, I centered the installation around the universally cherished celebration of birthdays—a theme that transcends cultural boundaries, to which everyone can happily relate. Additionally, I made the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES" experience uniquely comprehensive. Visitors not only receive a birthday card from a previous visitor but also are invited to craft another for the next, perpetuating a pay-it-forward chain of heartfelt messages, making it more inviting to visitors. Most importantly, the HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES installation aims to achieve are something simple yet profoundly meaningful: fostering CONNECTIONS and promoting KINDNESS. These elements deeply resonate with visitors, striking a chord with many seeking connectivity and positivity in a post-Covid, increasingly divided world. Their relevance during these challenging times has spurred extensive participation and wholehearted engagement.
Collaborating with my late father, we created 366 distinct motifs from various well-meaning Chinese characters. I then expanded these motifs into repeated patterns that now adorn each of the 366 LIKEBOXES (Birthday Mailboxes). Visitors find a unique pattern corresponding to their birthday, making the experience more personal and memorable. Moreover, each pattern also presents itself as a visual puzzle, adding an element of play and discovery that deepens the visitor’s engagement, introducing a sense of reward upon successful deciphering. The innovative use of Chinese characters, both significant cultural heritage and everyday writing script, also fosters a closer bond with audiences familiar with Chinese characters.
The social media-inspired aesthetics of both the LIKEBOXES and the cards captivate and spark curiosity among audiences, particularly the younger generation. Visitors find the blend of social media-inspired aesthetics with traditional mailboxes—a symbol of communication from yesteryear—both refreshing and thought-provoking. They have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm and great appreciation for the hand-drawn cards they received. Many invested considerable time and effort into crafting keepsakes, aiming to bring joy to the next recipient.
Growing up, my parents began a tradition of drawing birthday cards for me and my sisters, and from a young age, we have been reciprocating with our own creations. Especially on our parents' birthdays, my sisters and I would compete to craft the most creative cards. The anticipation of making my parents smile with a thoughtful creation was always a source of joy. Through my 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' installations, I aim to extend this joy to a broader audience, celebrating not only the delight of receiving a thoughtfully crafted card but also the pleasure of creating one, especially with the anticipation of bringing joy to its future recipient.One of the most unexpected and touching outcomes of the installation has been witnessing visitors from around the world and of all ages engage with it so wholeheartedly. It is truly inspiring to see their excitement as they receive a hand-drawn card from a stranger and then sit, focused and side by side, as they create a card for another visitor. Moreover, many are moved to continue this tradition beyond the installation, creating birthday cards for their own loved ones, thereby spreading the warmth and goodwill they experienced.
The technical elements are crucial in creating an immersive and enchanting atmosphere. LED lights illuminate the LIKEBOXES, enhancing their visual appeal and ensuring the patterns are clearly visible even in the absence of sunlight. Acrylic plates are used to showcase the intricate patterns with both clarity and durability. These thoughtful material choices not only enhance the aesthetic value of the installation but also its functionality and interactivity, enriching the overall visitor experience and fostering engagement with the artwork.
The grand scale of the installation envelops visitors, instilling a sense of awe and wonder. It physically represents the vastness and inclusivity of the community, with each LIKEBOX symbolizing an individual day and, metaphorically, an individual person. Bathed in sunlight, the LIKEBOXES' column silhouettes echo the architectural landscape in the background and harmonize with the distant mountains, creating a truly immersive environment. This setting encourages visitors to explore beyond just the LIKEBOX for their own birthday, fostering interactions and connections both with the installation and among each other. Some visitors even found their 'birthday twins' as they reach for the same LIKEBOX.
Debuted at the museum's intimate Chih Lo Lou Gallery as “HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES”, the exhibition of the installation was started on 14 July 2023, complementing the museum’s birthday-themed Chinese art exhibition 'Beyond Blessings'. Originally set to conclude on 25 October 2023, the installation's overwhelming popularity prompted an extension through 3 January 2024. Building on this success, a new stand-alone version, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES IN SUNLIGHT”, was unveiled on 19 January 2024 on the museum’s sunlit top floor, attracting even more visitors. Here, the installation transforms with the changing light, revealing different "facial expressions" that shift with the time of day. The LIKEBOXES shimmer in sunlight, their column silhouettes echoing the architectural landscape and harmonizing with the distant mountains, while shadows cast by Chinese character motifs for 'happiness' on the glass walls animate and add a poetic dimension to the space. This evolving experience has inspired me to explore how the installation can continue to evolve and incorporate new elements in response to new setting and context.
By the close of the 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES IN SUNLIGHT' exhibition in June 2024, over 80,000 hand-drawn birthday cards had been received, with more than 6,000 selected cards photographed and showcased on social media. The diversity and sincerity embodied in these cards stand as a beautiful testament to the enduring human desire for personal expression and genuine connection. This reveals that, despite the convenience of digital communication, there remains a deep-seated appreciation for heartfelt interactions. These insights have reinforced my belief that art can serve as a powerful medium for cultivating empathy, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation. Witnessing individuals invest their time and creativity into crafting something purely for the benefit of another reflects the inherent beauty in human nature.
Receiving this prestigious award highlights the installation's capacity to influence and inspire. I have witnessed how “'HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIKEBOXES” touches hearts through the meaningful exchange of hand-drawn birthday cards, uplifting spirits with the simple joys of giving and receiving, and instilling a sense of positivity. Visitors leave feeling happier and more inclined to spread kindness, thereby initiating a virtuous cycle of generosity and joy—much like ripples radiating across a pond.I envision the installation serving as a catalyst for dialogue on how art can transcend mere aesthetic appeal—moving beyond simply posing questions or provoking thoughts—to actively and meaningfully engage audiences. By inspiring mindsets and actions oriented towards the common good, our artistic creations can contribute, however modestly, to fostering a more compassionate and loving world.
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