You love comics, mangas, art work and animation? Then we have some great news. For the first time, Hong Kong got its own art space focusing entirely on comics, comic artists as well as the (local) comic industry at the Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai. But actually it’s much more than just a comics center.
Architecture and Culture of Comix Home Base
History of Comix Home Base
The building of Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Center is transformed from ten pre-war Grade 2 historic tenement houses on Mallory Street/Burrows Street. These ten houses were built in 1910s and they are the witness of Wan Chai’s development of the past century. In 2013, Urban Renewal Authority finally finished Mallory Street/Burrows Street Revitalisation Project and the ten old houses turned to nowadays Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Center.
Green House in The Old Days
The building structures combine both Chinese and Western architectural styles. If you heard the term “Green House” from locals, it actually refers to these buildings at Mallory and Burrow Street due to their previous green painting. Some original interior designs of floors, ceilings and staircases are difficult to find after Revitalisation Project. However, the iron balcony balustrades, timber staircases, French style doors and Chinese roll tiled roofs are well kept in the renovated building today. The Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Centre is rich of Hong Kong’s history and encapsulates a wide era of Hong Kong.
What does Comix Home Base offer ?
The four floors comic and animation hub Comix Home Base opened in Wan Chai on July 18, 2013. Comic fans have been anticipating this special opening for a long time. Being the third largest comic market in the world (just behind USA and Japan), Hong Kong and its comic artists, comic designers, animators and illustrators finally got a place to showcase their artwork and comic books to a wider audience.
In addition, Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Centre is home to several comic artists and illustration studios, a true place to meet and interact with comic creators, enthusiasts and comic book lovers.
Restaurants and Comics Souvenir Shops
The ground floor is home to several retail shops and restaurants. Comic and animation related products can be found here including the famous Panda-a-Panda. In case you get hungry or thirsty a small café is located on the ground floor (Queen’s Konditorei) and on the first floor (Queen’s Café).
Comix Salon
Make sure to check out the Comix Salon on the second floor. The Comix Salon features a large and comprehensive selection of local and overseas comics and animation art works. Take your time, sit down and enjoy some of the cool comic books.
Work Space and Exhibition Values
The second to fourth floor is dedicated for work space, events and venue for exhibition and galleries. Visitors to the Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Centre have a chance to discover and learn more about Hong Kong comic artists and comic design studios. Here I list some of the name. Keep your eyes open. Maybe you can spot one of the famous local Hong Kong comic artists.
The artists are :
Albert SUNG
Alice MAK Kar-bik
Andy SETO, Bigsoil
CHAN Mou, Chao Yat
CHENG Kin-wo
Chihoi
Colan HO
Cowman MAN Kai-ming
Cuson LO
Elphonso LAM
Fed WAN Yat-leung
FUNG Chi-ming
HO Chi-man
HO Ka-fai
John HO
JP (Jessica POON)
Justin WONG
KAI
KAM Siu-man
KHOO Fuk-lung
Ko Sing
Kongkee
Laitattatwing
LEE Chi-ching
LEE Wai-Chun
LI Chi-tak
Little Thunder
MA Wing-shing
Postgal Workshop
Rainbow LEUNG
Seeman HO
SHEUNG-GUN Siu-Bo
Siuhak
Stella SO
Suet Ching
Tony WONG Yuk-long
TSE Chi-wing
Unicorn Studio
WANG Ze Father and Son
YEUNG Hok-tak
Zunzi
Skywalk
There is a “Skywalk” located on the third and fourth floor of the Comix Home Base. It is the connection of independent buildings on Mallory Street and Burrows Street. Take your time and walk along this Skywalk to experience the architecture and culture of the Wan Chai district.
Insider Knowledge: The Significance of Wanchai to Comics
Choosing Wanchai as the location for Comix Home Base is not by accidence. Wan Chai has a long history of printing. Especially in the 1970s where one could find many print shops printing wedding invitations and cards, red pockets (lai see). The street, originally called Lee Tung Street, was demolished in December 2007 due to Urban Renewal Authority project. However, you still can feel how it was from the lyrics of local singer Kay Tse On Kei’s popular song “Wedding Card Street” (囍帖街).
It was also the home to several newspaper headquarters including the Hong Kong Times, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Pao. Regarding Hong Kong’s comic history, prominent and famous comic book artists such as Tony Wong Yuk-long (famous for his Oriental Heroes comics) and Seung-gun Siu Bo (who doesn’t know the famous Bruce Lee comics) grew up in the Wan Chai district as well as famous Panda-a-Panda comic designer Siu-hak.
In addition, the annual Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Convention aka the Ani-Con takes place in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Furthermore, Wan Chai is famous for its many comics and animation shops (a large selection can be found at the Oriental 188 Shopping Centre)
Secrets for You
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“For all of you who would like to discover more about Hong Kong’s comic, you can also check out the Avenue of Comic Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.”
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Worthwhile:
Location: -
Highlight: Comix Salon, Skywalk
Plan to Stay: 1 – 2 hours
General Info and Details
7 Mallory Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Exhibition Venue: 10:00am – 8:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Comic Salon: 12:00pm – 8:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Public Open Space: 8:00am – 10:00pm
Closed on the first three days of the Lunar New Year
+(852) 2824 5303
Free Admission
http://www.comixhomebase.com.hk/
How to get to Comix Home Base – Hong Kong Arts Center ?
By Subway: The most convenient way is to take the MTR to Admiralty staion. Take Exit A4 and walk about 5-10 min.
By Tram: Take historic Tram “Ding Ding” and get off at O’Brien Road Station (eastbound and westbound). walk about 5-10 min.
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