Hong Kong's so-called "umbrella movement", a form of activism from students and members of the youth, is sending its political message not only through words but also visual arts. 

Ordinary umbrellas that were once used as a defense from guards spewing tear gas and pepper spray have become symbolic to Hong Kong's fight towards electoral independence from China.

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In response to the High Court's issuance of a temporary injunction order to clear protest sites, several artists have begun documenting memoirs in order to preserve Hong Kong's largest movement to date.  Some of the works include sculptures, bamboo fences, plastic bottles, and posters that are now displayed in one of the leading British museums in the city.

While some private gallery owners offered storage for the artistic items, local museums rejected the displays since they were made out of the "illegal assembly."

For artists like Wen Yau and Sampson Wong Yu-hin, founders of the Umbrella Movement Visual Archives and Research Collection, the voice of Occupy Central must be echoed not only to their governments but also to the international community.  Both are now leading some 60 volunteers in cataloguing art works in the Admiralty districts.

Wen's group is raising HK$50,000 to HK$100,000 in the form of a startup fund to preserve the works for future reference.

The group is also planning to showcase one of their masterpieces, Disobedient Objects, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  Gavin Grindon, co-curator of the event, said they are also looking to expand to Sydney, Australia and Chile next year.

Similarly, Kacey Wong of the Umbrella Movement Art Preservation said that figures such as the Umbrella Man and Umbrella Flower are explicit representations of the protesters' fight towards achieving "quality political reform."

Other famous creative works include the "Lennon Wall", which is filled with Post-its of message of support from civilians, and the shrines of Jesus Christ and warrior god Guan Gong in Mong Kok.

TagsHong Kong, umbrella movement, occupy central, protests, Rally, Protest, artwork, protest art, umbrella