20th December 2025 – (Hong Kong) “Luminous Neon” is a major new exhibition dedicated to Hong Kong’s radiant urban identity, placing the city’s influential design legacy and neon tradition firmly in the spotlight. Conceived as an exploration of memory, craftsmanship and contemporary imagination, the show presents neon not simply as signage, but as a living visual language that has helped define Hong Kong’s streetscape and cultural character for generations.
For much of the 20th century, neon signs formed Hong Kong’s unofficial emblem to the world: a shimmering skyline of colour and ingenuity that encapsulated its dynamism and modernity. These illuminated structures were far more than commercial advertisements. For decades, they shaped the city’s visual vernacular and commercial landscape, each sign acting as both a declaration of identity and an invitation, drawing people in through design, typography and light that were unmistakably of Hong Kong.
Many of those authentic icons, once thought to be lost, have now been salvaged, painstakingly restored and returned to public view in “Luminous Neon”. Their familiar glow reawakens stories of the streets and districts they once defined. Embedded in every tube of glass is the work of master neon craftsmen, whose hands translated imagination into light, combining technical precision with poetic flair. Their skill did not merely illuminate shopfronts, cinemas and restaurants; it helped shape the visual DNA of a city perpetually in motion.
The exhibition brings back to life a number of particularly recognisable pieces, including the Golden Phoenix Grill Restaurant sign rescued in September, the Tai Ping Koon restaurant sign from nearby Yau Ma Tei, the Nam Cheong Pawn Shop sign and Da Cheong Computer Optical Centre’s distinctive neon spectacles, inspired by Ray-Ban frames. These sit alongside other significant heritage signs, all restored to their former brilliance.
In dialogue with these historic works is a new generation of neon practitioners, whose two and three-dimensional creations push the medium into fresh artistic and technical territory. These contemporary works build on traditional craft while embracing experimentation, recasting neon’s timeless luminosity into sculptural forms that explore identity, place and emotion in new ways.
Taken together, the historic and contemporary installations establish a conversation across eras — a visual exchange in light that goes beyond nostalgia. The exhibition positions Hong Kong’s neon not as a museum piece, but as part of an ongoing continuum: alive, adaptive and endlessly radiant. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the city’s vivid chromatic palette and to experience neon as both a treasured inheritance and an evolving art form.
The overarching aim of “Luminous Neon & The Light Within The Light Without” is to examine and present the multifaceted nature of neon as an artistic and cultural medium. The exhibition seeks to foreground neon’s historical importance while showcasing how it continues to be reinterpreted in contemporary art, design and urban culture. Through a varied programme of installations, it intends to engage visitors of all backgrounds, deepen appreciation for this distinctive medium and stimulate discussion about neon’s changing role in modern cities and everyday life. A strong emphasis is placed on sustainability and innovation, encouraging artists and designers to develop new, responsible approaches to working with neon in a rapidly shifting cultural environment.
At the heart of this initiative is Tetra Neon Exchange (TNX), a pioneering organisation devoted to conserving, reimagining and championing neon art and culture. Established by a collective of artists, designers and cultural historians, TNX is committed to reviving the traditional craft of glass tube bending while integrating it with contemporary creative practices. Through educational workshops, curated exhibitions and community-focused programmes, the organisation promotes a deeper understanding of neon as both a sophisticated craft and a significant cultural artefact, ensuring that Hong Kong’s luminous legacy continues to evolve rather than fade.
“Luminous Neon” is organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre and is being staged at The Gallery on the first floor of the DX design hub, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. The exhibition runs from 11 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 and is open daily from 11:00 to 19:00, with free admission for all visitors.
The recently refurbished DX design hub in Sham Shui Po has quickly become a new focal point for design and cultural experiences, with “Luminous Neon” among its most eye-catching attractions. Located on the first floor, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to step back into the visual world of old Hong Kong, where neon signs dominated films, advertising and nightlife, from cinemas and restaurants to discos.
Inside the gallery, a wide array of historic neon signs from Hong Kong’s past have been carefully restored and lit once more for public viewing. Among the most recognisable pieces are the signs from Da Cheong Optical, with their emblematic spectacle motif, traditional pawn shop signage, the well-known Lee Kung Man brand and the iconic Tai Ping Koon and Golden Phoenix restaurant signs. Each piece offers a tangible link to the city’s commercial, social and visual history.
The exhibition features interactive elements designed to immerse visitors in a richly atmospheric neon environment. These include a compact “old-school” disco corner illuminated by period-style neon, as well as neon-lit installations such as a taxi and motorbike that visitors can sit on for photographs. Staff on site are on hand to assist visitors in capturing images and “checking in” to the experience.
A second major component of the exhibition, “The Light Within The Light Without”, presents an immersive audiovisual installation. This work, approximately seven minutes in length and divided into four chapters, is continuously projected within a dedicated space. Accompanied by synchronised lighting and music, the piece explores neon’s past and possible futures, while highlighting the meticulous craft behind each sign. The cinematic atmosphere has drawn comparisons to the rich, glowing worlds of Wong Kar-wai’s films, inviting visitors to lose themselves in a stylised vision of Hong Kong at once familiar and dreamlike.
In addition to “Luminous Neon”, the revamped DX design hub now hosts a range of new exhibitions and design-led experiences, making it an increasingly important destination for those interested in Hong Kong’s creative scene. The “Luminous Neon” exhibition runs until 31st January 2026 at DX Design Hub, 1/F, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po. It is open from 11am to 7pm is closed on Tuesdays, and is free to enter with no advance booking required.
