Hong Kong’s “Chubby Hearts” balloon installation returned to Statue Square Gardens in Central on Sunday, a day after high wind speeds forced organisers to take down the 12-metre (39-foot) art piece for a “short break”.
The Hong Kong Design Centre said two smaller versions of the installation were on display on The Peak on Sunday, with the pair of three-metre balloons separately appearing on The Peak Garden Road and at Peak Galleria.
The larger installation in Central, unveiled on Valentine’s Day, was briefly deflated on Saturday when wind speeds became too high. Organisers replaced the art piece with a pair of three-metre balloons.
“Heavy rain and strong winds can impact the operation of the outdoor floating installation,” the centre wrote on social media. “The exact number of display days and timings may vary depending on the actual weather conditions.”
The art pieces are expected to be displayed until February 24, with some of the smaller balloons to appear across the city.
Hong Kong’s ‘Chubby Heart’ skips a beat as weather forces event to take break
Hong Kong’s ‘Chubby Heart’ skips a beat as weather forces event to take break
A source earlier told the Post that organisers had tested the larger balloon’s wind-speed tolerance, which stood at about 41km/h (25mph), similar to what was experienced during a typhoon No 3 signal.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the 10-minute mean wind speed at Central Pier ranged from 20km/h to 25km/h at 4pm on Saturday.
Authorities on Friday revealed the organisers of the installation, which is categorised as a major local event, had sought HK$7.8 million (US$997,170) in government funding to showcase the art piece by British designer Anya Hindmarch.
According to organisers, more than 200,000 people visited the balloons across the city in the first three days of the event, with tourists accounting for over 20 per cent of the figure.
The main installation is believed to be four times the size of one on display in London.