THE PLAQUE
When CNA visited the site on Friday, the small gold plaque was seen installed above the signature of the artist, American muralist Sean Dunston.
It states that the overall intention of the piece “was to create an iconic, vivid composite of a samsui woman in her prime and in a moment of peace”.
“Samsui women are usually depicted on task, or in less than comfortable contexts, and much older, though they were often young as any other workers,” the plaque reads.
The samsui woman depicted is smoking a cigarette, while holding a Taoist talisman in her left hand along with a red thread, “to punctuate that this woman strives and is connected to her family and the people in her life”.
The anti-smoking message appears below this, reading: “The artist stresses that the cigarette depiction is not intended to glamorise or promote tobacco use. Smoking has been shown to be extremely harmful to one’s health.”
Mr Dunston told CNA on Friday that the plaque’s text had been written by him and the building’s landlord, and that they had edited it based on input from URA.
“I suggested the addition of the anti-smoking part of the text for the plaque, as a way to fulfil the ‘mitigation of any normalisation of smoking the mural may have caused’ part of the stipulated agreement to allow the mural to remain unchanged,” he said.
The artist also suggested the plaque’s placement and handled its layout and background design.
“We had been talking about putting up a plaque for a few months, and there was no rush,” said Mr Dunston. The plaque was installed on Thursday, he said.
When asked for his thoughts on the matter’s resolution, Mr Dunston said the plaque’s primary purpose is to convey information about the artwork.
“The anti-smoking message is there to reiterate something everyone already knows. Smoking is bad for you. Try not to smoke. Issue resolved,” he said.
Separately, the landlord’s representative, Shepherd Asset Management, told CNA it was “very happy” with the newly installed plaque.
“We hope it helps to contextualise the mural and give viewers more insight on the artistic intention,” said a spokesperson for the company.
“We’ve also worked closely with the URA in clarifying that the mural is not intended to glamorise smoking, and we’re grateful for their guidance.
“For us, the plaque is a happy resolution that helps passers-by better appreciate the mural, while also addressing any concerns that some may have.”
