The de facto symbol of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the umbrella, has taken on new life in street art installations amongst the demonstrating crowd.
Aside from shielding protesters from pepper spray and tear gas as violence unfolded on the streets of Hong Kong's central business district on Sunday, the umbrellas also kept protesters dry amid heavy downpours during subsequent days of peaceful demonstrations.
Now creatives are using umbrellas as artistic symbols and bringing music to the city's streets while the "Umbrella Revolution," shows no signs of waning.
As protesters continue to call for the resignation of Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, colorful umbrellas were decoratively placed atop barricades on the street.
The morning after. #OccupyCentral #UmbrellaRevolution pic.twitter.com/iwJJlvPa63— Olivia Rosenman (@olivesophierose) September 29, 2014
A sculpture of discarded umbrellas also sprung up near one of the protest sites. The "umbrella tree," as it is being called by activists, was created by student artists:
"Embrace Freedom in the Wind & Rain" -- Sign at the "Umbrella Sculpture," Outside Legco #HongKong #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/YlIf3eA6vh— Natasha Khan (@natashakhanhk) October 1, 2014
New landmark outside HK Legco. #OccupyCentral @OCLPHK #OccupyHK #HKStudentStrike #hkprotest #UmbrellaRevolution pic.twitter.com/x9RwrOTUs4— Lam Yik Fei (@LamYikFei) October 1, 2014
Colorful Post-it notes offer simple reflections on why activists have chosen to take part in the demonstrations:
Why are we here? People share their thoughts on colourful memos #OccupyCentral #UmbrellaMovement #UmbrellaRevolution pic.twitter.com/KiRoRuCsUv— Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) October 1, 2014
On Monday, a string quartet was spotted entertaining the crowd that had gathered at the Causeway Bay protest site, playing "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from Les Misérables.
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A media collective has also been projecting words of encouragement onto the sides of buildings to inspire the activists on the ground.
Thousands of messages, posted by people from around the world on this website, area being collected and streamed straight to the demonstration sites.
"This has grown into an atmosphere that has never been seen in Hong Kong ever," Sampson Wong, 29, a co-creator of the installation told Mashable this week.
"We wanted to do something that offered emotional support to them while they are facing a tough situation," he said.