Japanese artists bring Snoopy dreamland to Hong Kong

Featuring what is believed to be the world’s tallest Snoopy statue, an art installation inspired by the famous Peanuts dog has made its debut in Hong Kong.

The show by Yoshiteru Otani, a Japanese artist best known for his Peanuts-inspired work, takes visitors on a trip through a Snoopy dreamland.

“I’ve liked Snoopy ever since I was young. There are fewer and fewer places in Hong Kong where you can see Snoopy. There are less and less shops selling Snoopy merchandise. That’s why I came here as soon as I heard about the exhibition,” said one Snoopy fan.

“Many of the cartoon and comic characters are really cute and are real classics. More people should know about them. Otherwise, the next generation won’t know what we’re talking about and they won’t have the chance to appreciate these classic comic books,” said another 13-year old fan.

Born in the United States in 1950, Snoopy has become a classic symbol of “dreams come true”.

The aim of Yoshiteru Otani’s work is to reinvent Snoopy with an oriental twist, fusing the famous Peanuts pet with Japanese calligraphy and craft: “This piece is a combination of ‘kanji’, the Chinese alphabetic characters, and Peanuts cartoons,” said the artist, pointing to one of the artworks on show.

“The kanji characters each have a meaning. One letter might mean “laughter” or it could mean “friendship”. The four-frame Peanuts cartoon strips created by Charles M. Schulz also have clear messages like friendship or frustration. So this is a new form of art that brings together kanji and Peanuts cartoons,” he explained.

Featuring installations and artworks by several Japanese artists, the ‘Dare to Dream’ Snoopy Art and Life Exhibition runs in Hong Kong’s Harbour City until mid-August.