Pipe Dream charts the relationship between the man-made and nature in Hong Kong’s urban environment. Julie Progin reflects on their symbiotic connection that exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and the strength that can be found in collaborations. She shares, “I’ve always been fascinated by the adaptability of nature in Hong Kong. It’s a common sight to see trees growing on facades where roots find nutrients and moisture through cracks in the concrete. Widely used on the exterior of buildings to save indoor space due to high-density living, jungle-like networks of PVC pipes—used as downspouts or drainage pipes—also provide the perfect conditions for plants to thrive producing mesmerizing patterns and systems that I drew conceive Pipe Dream.”

To create this print Julie Progin was inspired by the intricate compositions of traditional Chinese floral pattern known as wan hua dui (ten thousand flowers piled up or mille-fleurs). She replaced the flowers with PVC pipe parts arranged in bouquets-like formations to echo how they are displayed for retail in hardware shops in Hong Kong—hung in clusters from the ceilings to save valuable shelf space.