Happy Birthday Likeboxes: A Chain of Kindness

Art Installation Fosters Community Spirit Through Birthday Wishes

In the heart of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hikoko Ito's innovative art installation, Happy Birthday Likeboxes, stands as a beacon of creativity and community spirit. Each of the 366 Likeboxes, glowing with LED lights, represents a day of the year, inviting museum visitors to partake in a unique ritual of giving and receiving hand-drawn birthday cards. This continuous chain of kindness is not only a nod to the designer's family tradition but also a challenge to the impersonal nature of digital communication.

The installation's unique properties lie in its interactive design. Intricate patterns on the Likeboxes' doors double as visual puzzles, hiding Chinese characters that participants must decode to access the birthday cards within. This element of discovery adds an engaging layer to the experience, making each visit a personal adventure. The act of drawing and sharing cards creates a tangible connection between strangers, fostering a sense of community and goodwill.

Realized through a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology, the Likeboxes are constructed from durable plastic and adorned with acrylic plates. The patterns on the doors are meticulously crafted, and the entire installation is illuminated by strategically placed LED lights. The technical specifications, including the dimensions of the Likeboxes and the accompanying Postbox, underscore the grand scale of the project, which occupies a significant space within the museum.

Engagement with the installation is simple yet profound. Visitors find the Likebox corresponding to their birth date, unlock it by solving the pattern puzzle, and are greeted with a unique birthday card from a previous visitor. They then create a new card, drawing inspiration from artworks in the museum's collection, and send it off for a future visitor. This process not only delights participants but also immortalizes their contributions on social media, where selected works are showcased.

The Happy Birthday Likeboxes project, which began in April 2023, quickly gained popularity, leading to its extension and the launch of a second exhibition. The success of the installation in Hong Kong and its subsequent iterations in other cities is a testament to its universal appeal and the shared human desire for connection and celebration.

Behind the scenes, the project faced challenges, including doubts about visitor participation and the quality of the cards. However, the overwhelmingly positive response and the high-quality contributions have dispelled these concerns, proving that the spirit of altruism and community is alive and well. The installation has not only won the hearts of visitors but also earned the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award, recognizing its contribution to art and community engagement.