Hong Kong Balloon artist bursts Guinness World Record with 42-metre Dragon sculpture

Dragon-shaped installation at TMTPlaza in Hong Kong's Tuen Mun area, set a new Guinness World Record

Balloon artist Wilson Pang Sze-tai, with a career spanning 12 years, recently achieved a significant milestone. His latest masterpiece, a dragon-shaped installation at TMTPlaza in Hong Kong's Tuen Mun area, set a new Guinness World Record as the "largest balloon sculpture of a dragon."

Measuring 41.77 meters long and crafted from 38,000 hand-tied biodegradable balloons, the artwork marked a fusion of Western recognition and traditional Chinese symbolism, celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Pang, who initially started as a magician, expanded his skills through training in various countries and has garnered accolades, including two-time champion at the World Balloon Convention.

Despite facing challenges during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pang remained committed to his passion for bringing magic into the world. To achieve his record-breaking feat, he collaborated with a team of 60, including his mentor from Taiwan and volunteers from City University's "Balloon Art Club," which he co-founded in 2022.

Utilizing AI and projector screens, Pang overcame design challenges, ensuring the dragon's proportions were both majestic and approachable. The intensive preparation, lasting three and a half days, required minimal sleep, but Pang believes the fleeting nature of balloon sculptures is akin to fresh flowers—they bloom, captivate, and eventually shrink over time.

Despite the impermanence, Pang considers the project a success, sharing a special moment with the public.

Source: South China Morning Post