2026 | Public Art Installation, Mural & Workshop |  Oil Street Art Space

PROJECT INTRODUCTION

Have a Tree Day (樹下慢漫) is a site-specific public art project and outdoor exhibition by Hong Kong artist UUendy Lau (UU), presented at Oi! Street Art Space (Oi!) in Hong Kong. Inspired by the old trees growing within the site, the project explores the relationship between people, trees and the communities they inhabit through narrative illustration, a large-scale mural, public furniture and interactive installations.

While trees often outlive generations, they remain rooted in the same place as cities evolve around them. As silent witnesses to the passage of time, they hold traces of a community’s collective memories, everyday encounters and changing landscapes. In Have a Tree Day, trees are reimagined as guardians of local neighbourhoods, with their own personalities, stories and spirits.

Drawing inspiration from tree-spirit myths across cultures and regions, the project explores how people have used folklore and imagination to understand the natural world. Rather than treating trees as passive elements of urban greenery, the artwork invites visitors to see them as living companions which offering shelter, comfort and a quiet presence in our everyday lives.

A Living Portrait of the Neighbourhood

At the heart of the project is a 12M-wide narrative mural featuring a giant tree spirit watching over the surrounding community. The illustration brings together Oil Street Art Space’s architectural heritage, local history, cultural activities, everyday encounters and urban wildlife, weaving different moments in time into a shared visual landscape.

Historical references and details from previous community programmes appear alongside familiar plants and birds found around the site. People of different ages and cultural backgrounds share the space through daily activities, reflecting the inclusive and unique characters of the local district.

By combining collective memories with graphic elements inspired by local community, the mural becomes a visual time capsule that connects Oi!'s past and present while imagining its evolving relationship with nature and the neighbourhood.

Oi! OnSite: Have a Tree Day

Venue: Oi! Deck, Oil Street Art Space

Artist: UUendy Lau (UU)
Exhibition Period: From now to Feb 2028. Free entry.

Oil's Project Site: https://www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_onsite_have_a_tree_day.html

From Illustration to Interactive Public Art

Extending beyond the wall, Have a Tree Day transforms illustrated characters and stories into a series of interactive installations and public furniture. Visitors are encouraged to explore the artwork at their own pace, discovering different ways to engage with trees and the environment.

• A custom-designed telescope and miniature tree-spirit sculptures invite visitors to search for hidden details, turning close observation into a playful discovery.

• Tree-spirit beach chairs offer a place to pause, rest and enjoy a moment of calm within the urban setting.

• Flower-shaped mirrors encourage visitors to see their reflections within the mural, becoming part of the illustrated world and companions to the tree spirits.

• A tree-hollow-inspired letterbox sat on one of the metal seatings invites visitors to write messages or draw pictures for the trees, imagining them as quiet listeners and trusted companions.

These elements extend the narrative from a two-dimensional illustration into a shared, participatory experience. Visitors are no longer simply looking at the artwork; they become part of its stories through observation, rest, reflection and personal expression.

Slowing Down and Reconnecting with Nature

The exhibition title Have a Tree Day is both the name of the project and a gentle invitation to spend time with trees. The Chinese title, 「樹下慢漫」, brings together the idea of slowing down （慢）and the feeling of wandering freely （漫）, with a sense of romance and discovery.

In a fast-paced city, our attention often moves away from the natural environment around us. Through playful encounters and moments of quiet reflection, the project encourages visitors to notice the details they might otherwise overlook, such as the patterns of a tree trunk, the presence of birds, the changing seasons or the comfort of simply sitting beneath a tree.

There is no single way to connect with nature. Sometimes, it begins with looking a little closer, sharing a thought with a tree or allowing ourselves a moment of rest. Through this site-specific public art project, artist UUendy Lau (UU) invites visitors to rediscover trees as part of our shared urban life. Tree are not merely as scenery, but as companions, witnesses and fellow inhabitants of the city.

Have a Tree Day is an invitation to slow down, appreciate what we have and find new ways to connect with the living world around us.