Locations | Art pieces

Plaza | Mock Viper and Habitat

The Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) is primarily active during the day, with a body colour varying from light yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, helping it blend perfectly into its surroundings. Its body features pale white and yellowish-brown spots, with a distinctive V-shaped marking on its head. These snakes are frequently encountered in forests, particularly enjoying the cover of dry leaves. They are excellent climbers and can often be found near water sources, where they position themselves on overhanging branches to hunt for prey. 

The artwork primarily uses natural dyes from Rubiaceae plants and Dioscorea plant, both native to Hong Kong and closely tied to the cultural heritage of local fishing communities and Hakka villages. The piece features diamond-shaped patchwork mimicking the snake's scale patterns, while Dioscorea mud-dyeing creates unique patterns, demonstrating modern artistic techniques.

Gloria Barretto Orchid Sanctuary｜Red-necked Keelback and Habitat

The Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus helleri) is easily recognisable by its red neck and olive-green body, adorned with black spots and yellow-green markings. It is one of the more common snakes in Hong Kong and is active during the day. Its preference for preying on toads often brings it near water sources or forested areas, making it a frequent sight on hiking trails. 

The artwork uses natural dyes from Rubiaceae plants, onion skins, and Dioscorea plant, combining kitchen waste utilisation with local plant connections. Local wild grass (Costus speciosus) adds green depth to the work. Various dyeing techniques were employed, including tie-dyeing to create scale-like patterns, while mud-dyeing allowed students to incorporate their blessings for snakes.

T.S. Woo Memorial Pavilion｜Greater Green Snake and Habitat

The Greater Green Snake (Ptyas major) is distributed throughout Hong Kong and is one of the more common species locally. It has a bright green body with a yellow underside, a slender body, typically not exceeding 1m in length. Active during the day, the Greater Green Snake preys on various animals and is particularly fond of earthworms, thus it can be found near water, mud, dead wood, or leaf litter. Snakes are naturally adept at using camouflage to avoid predators such as eagles, and this is especially true for smaller snakes like the Green Tree Snake. Its bright green body blends into the forest, making it difficult for raptors to spot it from above. 

The artwork combines yellow dye from onion skins and green from Costus speciosus, along with recycled green fabric for added depth. Special Dioscorea mud-dyeing techniques create naturally expressive snake eyes with profound depth.

Sunshine Hall｜Burmese Python and Habitat

The Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) is the largest snake species in Hong Kong, found across the territory in habitats such as grasslands, forests, and mangroves. Recognisable by its brown markings or spots, it is easily identified. Due to their massive size, they move slowly but, as apex predators, they have no natural enemies to fear. The Burmese Pythons feed on birds and mammals, with a particular preference for rodents. Larger adults can prey on chickens, rabbits, and even larger animals such as sheep, deer, muntjac, and wild boars. 

The artwork combines natural dyes from onion skins and Dioscorea mud-dyeing, featuring abstract patterns and elegant text representing students' understanding and blessings for snakes. Students actively participated in sewing and patchwork, demonstrating patience and craftsmanship in every stitch.

Artist

Benjamin Hao Lap-Yan

Benjamin Hao Lap-Yan is an interdisciplinary artist whose work spans diverse creative practices. Having obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the Hong Kong Art School and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in 2011, he later earned his Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from the University of Hartford in Connecticut, US. Hao’s works and artistic projects have been exhibited and implemented in various locations, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Iceland, Macedonia and the US, focusing on community art and ecological art. Hao seeks to engage with existing systems and structures, exploring how mainstream culture and ideologies shape our understanding of society, the natural environment and communities. His work invites audiences to reexamine the relationships between individuals, communities and nature, inspiring reflection on entrenched ideologies and fostering new ways of understanding and narrating the world.