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From Trash to Art: Crowdsourcing and the Bottom-up Heritagisation of Neon Signs in Hong Kong

Year: 2025

Type: article

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.

Source: The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences

Author: Veronica Sau-wa Mak

Institution: Hong Kong Shue Yan University

Language: English

Topic: Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4414754560

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