SKETCHING OCCUPY CENTRAL, DAY 3 (2 Oct 2014) I had to get some work done during the earlier part of the day, but admit that my mind kept wandering to the goings-on in and around the city. 2 nights ago, the protestors demanded that Hong Kong Chief Executive, CY Leung, resign by midnight. Social media and messaging apps were raining with constant updates, rumors and news of latest developments. At 7pm, I couldnt resist the pull any longer, and packed to head out to Admiralty, where the heart of the protest lies. I met up with Luis again, who informed me that the crowds that night were only half of previous days, but to my eyes, it was no less awesome to witness. Surrounded by the steel and glass of Hong Kongs famous soaring skyscrapers lay a highway peppered with people. Flyovers that used to be choked with traffic now saw protestors strolling, sleeping, and distributing supplies. We crossed a pedestrian bridge spanning Connaught Road, the major artery serving downtown Hong Kong, which was now Occupy Central HQ. It offered the best views of the activity below, and now housed camera crews from all over the world. I found a quiet spot along the bridge and made my first sketch of the night. The trucks you see came by in a cacophony of honks, beeps and colorful flashing LED lights, and were welcomed by cheering crowds. Im guessing they were bringing supplies, but cant be sure. Supply tents I saw along the way were well-organized and brimming with cartons of food, water, masks and of course, umbrellas. As I sketched, a few grim troops of police marched quickly by on the bridge, in a flood of camera flashes from the media. They brought in duffel bags of helmets and food, then trolleys laden with what looked like riot gear. Sometimes in uniform, often in plainclothes, but easy to spot from their signature crewcuts and mouths set in thin lines, they avoided eye contact and sped by unobstructed. Below me, people strolled, sat and slept. Canopies marked supply depots and first aid crews, and among them, a mass of humanity moved and swirled, lit by the orangey sodium streetlights and the blue-white glare of their mobile devices. To my right lay a curving staircase leading pedestrians from the bridge to ground level. Amidst the orangey-inky landscape, colorful post-it notes stood out, filled with messages from protestors and supporters of the movement from all walks of life. Right above, a feed of supportive messages sent by people around the world were projected onto a giant wall. I could feel tensions mount as time ticked by. I finished my first sketch at about 10:30, then proceeded to make my way through the crowd. People of all ages sported gear of all kinds, steeling themselves for a repeat of last Sunday. I saw many swimming goggles, lots of transparent goggles usually used by DIY enthusiasts, flimsy surgical masks to pro models with filters, raincoats, ponchos and of course, the unwitting symbol of the movement, umbrellas. Some young people were busy wrapping their arms with cling film in case pepper spray would be deployed later. A thick phalanx of police surrounded the Central Government Offices where demonstrators would occasionally chant, demanding that the CE (Chief Executive) step down. Others stood by, waiting to see what would transpire. Close to 11:45pm, just before the midnight ultimatum, the tension was thick and sour, aided by oppressive humidity. I found a gap close to the barricade and sketched the police guard. The one closest to me closed his eyes for a long moment, forcing himself to breathe and relax. His partner close by was a bundle of nervous energy, shifting and adjusting his gear constantly. Im not tall, and tired of standing on tiptoe, decided to look for a better vantage point. Climb a tree? Maybe not. Every available height advantage on ground level was occupied, from railings to planters and power junction boxes. A flyover soared above the crowd to my left, and faced all the action. Its guardrail was already thick with spectators, but I thought Id give it a shot and try my luck up there anyway. Inch by inch, I waited and threaded my way forward towards the guardrail. The heat and stifling humidity brought on an olfactory assault as cooped up bodies sweated freely. Some spectators decided to leave as the packed conditions became near unbearable. I stood my ground however, and eventually made it to the front. There was intermittent shouting and chanting, but most people just stood in readiness, waiting to see what would happen. The CE had announced on TV an hour before, that he would not resign. The tension climbed so high, anything could have sparked an altercation. The still air mirrored the people below, coiled to spring and waiting for a trigger. At 12:30, a guy with a loudspeaker, who had been asking people to keep calm and hold their ground, announced that the government was agreeing to send someone to speak to organizers soon. He then asked everyone to take a break and rest, and that further developments would be announced when available. The tension left the air like a leaky balloon, and within minutes, people started moving away, sitting down, grabbing a bite and taking naps. Many stayed on to see what, if anything would happen soon, and I stayed for another couple of hours, sketching a little and chatting with neighboring spectators. It soon became clear that nothing significant would transpire, so I took the opportunity to walk home on the highway that saw zooming traffic only a week ago. #umbrellarevolution #sketchoccupycentral #occupyhongkong #procreateapp
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 11:32:56 +0000
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