A Hong Kong graffiti artist, the "King of Kowloon," who gained
worldwide fame with his Chinese calligraphy on walls and phone
boxes across the city, has died of a heart attack at the age of
86.
For more than 50 years Tsang Tsou-choi's script could be found
throughout Hong Kong, claiming his family had a royal background
and declaring himself king of Kowloon.
Tsang claimed much of the land in Kowloon belonged to his family
but the government had annexed it without compensation, according
to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on
Thursday.
The report said when he failed to get official recognition of
his claims, he published them on the walls of Hong Kong.
Most of his graffiti were washed off or painted over by
authorities.
But the SCMP report said there were calls for Tsang's
work, some of which remains on walls in Kowloon, to be
preserved.
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His work typically consisted of a list of his ancestors. Also
included were places that his forebears owned. The lists often
ended with "Emperor of The Kingdom of New China, Canton and Kowloon
Tsang Tsou-choi," the SCMP said.
A knee problem finally stopped him painting in 2003.
He became famous around the globe after some of his works were
displayed at the Venice Biennale international art exhibition in
2003. In 2004 one of his pieces sold at a Sotheby's auction for
HK$55,000 (US$7,000).
Tsang's work has inspired fashion designers and interior
decorators. Louis Vuitton also featured him in a handbag
advertisement.
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(Agencies via CRI.cn July 27, 2007)