We Dream in Darkness

Hong Kong is a technicolor stage of activity. The city highlights our achievements and rewards thinkers, creators, and innovators. As individuals who live in Hong Kong, we hope others will recognise our merits and see us in our best light. Simultaneously, Hong Kong relies on light to keep the order. Light is an impartial judge of human character; it rewards us when we succeed and punishes us when we fail. Light also allows others to witness our actions and to form their own image of who we are.

In the morning, we wake up in our homes and feel compelled to pull our curtains open to welcome in the diffused daylight. We look out our windows and the city beckons. The water, the mountains, the kaleidoscope of colourful characters set our imaginations ablaze.

On the street, the scorching sun shines a spotlight on Hongkongers that is at times unforgiving. Light endures even when people cannot. In our darkest moments, light sees us; it captures our struggles and reveals our fears. When the city sun overwhelms us with its heat, we search for compassionate shade. When we need respite from the noise and glare, we search for a quiet dim space.

At night, we shut our curtains to block outside glow, turn off our indoor illumination and close our eyes. We alone can see our true desires, thoughts, and hopes.

We dream in darkness.

Wenwen Liu
2019