In a city with an art scene driven largely by the market – think auctions, galleries and fairs – street art is a more unvarnished antidote. It livens up grey neighbourhoods and brings art to a wide cross-section of people who might not otherwise see it.

‘Advertising and signage has become part of the iconic image of Hong Kong, but I doubt there are many people out there who feel like those advertisements are representative of the personality or views of the city,’ says Jason Dembski, founder of HKwalls, a group that connects street artists with business owners around town. ‘An artist creating work on the street, even if it is for self-promotion in some way, gives a voice to that person and, in some cases, a larger public.’

Dembski says Hong Kong has grown much more accepting of street art in recent years. ‘More and more you see bars, restaurants and even corporate offices hiring these artists to create work in their spaces,’ he says. A host of events and organisations are expanding the local street art scene, like Dirty Panda, which hosts graffiti battles, and Write the Future, which runs exhibitions and workshops. Every year, HKwalls mounts a large exhibition in a different part of Hong Kong, which draws thousands of people to watch artists paint murals in the street.