In front of you stands a pristine white house illuminated by sunlight. However, as you move closer, you notice it is riddled with holes, and the structure is entirely inverted. Can such a building be called a "home"?

When a home is destroyed, do you immediately flee in search of a new place to stay, or do you remain in the ruins, trying to rebuild what was once yours?

Anthony Ko, a Hong Kong based artist, spatial designer and architect registered in the United Kingdom, created "Casa Destruct " for this year's deTour 2024 design festival. It is a small house that encapsulates the questions above.

"After the Noto Peninsula earthquake last year, I saw an aerial news photo of a disaster site with a white house standing amid the landslides." That striking image struck Anthony, but while he intended to convert such an image into art, he did not want to recreate the “tilted house” directly. "So I designed the house to be symmetrical yet completely inverted, symbolizing loss or even a sense of hostility."

An exhibition is where people from all walks of life come and go. "If a strangely positioned house is presented there, will passersby be curious enough to look closer?"

The house is entirely painted white, a metaphor for the unease that disasters bring.

The homes of Hong Kong residents are often seen as formless, typically existing as just a single compartment within a tall building. This cartoon-like representation does not match our shared understanding of what a home should be. With vivid colors and an inverted orientation, the artwork emphasizes contrasts to an extreme degree, enhancing the visual experience and encouraging the viewer to reflect deeply.

"Casa Destruct" is Anthony's latest work in his "Extreme Series," which aims to find meaning amid the ruins.

While many see this as a barren space, Anthony finds it fascinating. Over the past two years, he has created three pieces that use art to redefine space and reshape the concept of "home.

In 2022, for the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival, he created an installation titled Fragile World. This piece features a spheroid made up of numerous mirrored rings, each angled toward a path, creating a space that explores truth and history through reflection. The Jade-Girdle Bridge, located in Yim Tin Tsai, is surrounded by this narrow structure.

Built in 1953, the Jade-Girdle Bridge was once the sole route for women in Yim Tin Tsai to reach Kau Sai Chau. The bridge is low, and the water flows swiftly beneath it, which has led to tragic incidents where islanders have been swept away.

The bubble symbolizes protection for those on the bridge and honors the selfless dedication of Hakka women to their families. Its spherical shape represents reunion and the cycle of life. Although the bubble may be fragile, it embodies hope and strength.

For the SMACH Art Biennale 2023, the theme was "Sprouting," and the event took place in the meadows of the Dolomites in Italy, often referred to as God's garden in the Alps. The landscape is characterized by small wooden cabins where shepherds lead simple, self-sufficient lives, free from excessive development. However, as tourism begins to encroach on this peaceful setting, these cabins are starting to deteriorate. This situation raises an important question: how can we preserve local history and ecology in the face of such change?

Anthony placed an inflatable house on the mountain, resembling a lifeboat floating in place; escape wasn't an option. This structure symbolizes both growth and decay.

In the same year, he participated in the Oku-Noto Triennale, where he created works titled "The Long-awaited Boredom" and "Secret Express "at the abandoned Ukai Station, which has been abandoned since the Noto Line ceased operations in 2005.The theme "Land of Unknowing Sceneries" aims to revive forgotten spaces, attracting locals and travelers to rekindle a long-lost vitality.

His works appearing in hard-to-reach locations are not a coincidence. "Perhaps deep inside, I am against the culture of selfies and want to Make things real tough for some," Anthony jokes.

According to Anthony, the definition of "extreme" includes instability, drifting, contradictions, and escapism. It does not necessarily pertain to geography; dangerous bridges, remote mountains, abandoned stations, and even well-populated cities provoke reflections on the question: Where is home, exactly?

Although this edition of "Casa Destruct" is set in Mid-Levels Central, the themes of "extreme" and "barren" are still apparent. One could argue that the essence of previous works continues to resonate in this context.

Upon a close examination of Anthony's works, one can sense a profound emotional distance that is almost intangible. Those who can closely relate to the concept of "home" might easily grasp the central idea within the artwork.

Anthony describes his art as reminiscent of monuments, infused with a sense of the sacred. He notes, "Perhaps this is because they reflect a sadness tied to the past and carry untold stories."

Looking through the cracks of the White House, we discover a series of photographs taken between May 5, 2023, and January 1, 2024. These images showcase the beauty observed during a stay in Noto, captured during the peaceful days between two earthquakes.

The photographer notes, "These photos may seem a little bland, but in the aftermath of the earthquake, as destruction unfolds, they transform into significant records."

A small hole in the sidewall of the house offers a glimpse of a clock inside. Time froze at 4:10 when the earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula earlier this year.

Now, returning to the question posed at the beginning of this article: When your home is ruined, will you mourn its loss, or will you choose to rebuild?

deTour 2024 – design festival

Having → Being: Designing Inner Worlds

Date｜2024.11.29 - 12.15

Venue｜PMQ (35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong)

Entrance Fee: Free

Detail ｜http://detour.hk/