Hong Kong Panorama 1997
Acrylic on canvas
6x12ft / 1.83x3.66m
Statistics on making a panoramic painting to mark the historic return to China of Hong Kong and the New Territories:
The painting was made with a team of assistants over a three year period, reconstructing and representing every building visible from the highest point of
Hong Kong.
The panoramic view is a 6 ft x 12 ft (1.83 x 3.66m) acrylic on canvas painting.
It represents a 180 degree view from The Peak - the highest point of Hong Kong - and records the city with Kowloon and the distant hills of the New Territories as seen on
1 July 1997.
The method of painting was mainly sprayed - therefore all areas had to be covered with masking tape.
Initial research, photographs and studies in Hong Kong: 80 hours
Work in London studio:
Preparatory drawing 2500 hours
Colour mixing of more than 500 colours - 240 hours
Transfer of drawing onto canvas prior to spraying and painting 120 hours
Painting hours - total over 8000 hours
Total hours spent making the painting - 10860 hours or 271 weeks equal to six working years
People directly involved in making the painting - six
Number of buildings represented - over 3000
Number of windows represented - over 5000
Thinnest line sprayed less than 1000th of an inch/0.2mm
Average width of masking tape 1/8 inch or 3mm
Amount of masking tape used approximately 24 miles/40 kilometres
Number of scalpel blades used for cutting tape 5000