HSBC connects Central to M+ with new art route

As the lead sponsor of M+’s upcoming special exhibition "Myths and Monsters: The Art of Fantasy in Asia", HSBC has unveiled the "HSBC art route," a dedicated cultural transit experience connecting the HSBC Main Building in Central to M+ in West Kowloon.

Reflecting HSBC’s overarching "Open to art" initiative, the project invites the public to discover Hong Kong’s rich heritage through its history, urban legends, and artistic traditions.

Departing from Central and journeying across the harbour, passengers are accompanied by an on-board guide provided in collaboration with local cultural enterprise Walk In Hong Kong. The specially decorated minibus offers an immersive way to explore Central’s history, the iconic legend of the HSBC bronze lions, and various cultural landmarks along the route.

To bring the vehicle to life, Master Wing-kei Choi, a second-generation inheritor of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage in flower plaque crafting, teamed up with local graphic artist Jim Lee.

Their collaborative design skillfully blends traditional flower plaque motifs with Western calligraphy, combining two powerful cultural symbols: HSBC’s bronze lion, Stephen, and the Eastern dragon. This fusion embodies the meeting of East and West, past and present, highlighting Hong Kong’s distinctive cultural identity.

The M+ special exhibition Myths and Monsters: The Art of Fantasy in Asia, running from 17 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, marks the first large-scale thematic showcase exploring how Asian artists harness imagination to respond to the world around them. Featuring over 400 works spanning fine art, architecture, fashion, video games, and cinema, the exhibition illustrates how fantasy aesthetics transcend geographic and generational boundaries.

Since 1935, HSBC’s bronze lions, Stephen and Stitt, have stood guard over Central, becoming enduring symbols and shared memories for generations of Hong Kong residents.

Since becoming M+’s inaugural Lead Partner in 2022, HSBC has consistently championed local arts and culture through its "Open to art" platform, launched in 2024 to break down physical and creative barriers.

This latest collaboration forms part of a broader, two-month marketing campaign celebrating Asia's creative legacy—which previously included supporting M+'s showcase of over 40 haute couture pieces by renowned designer Guo Pei. Looking ahead, HSBC aims to continue using art as a bridge to connect communities and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international cultural hub.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to HSBC for more information. 

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