Gazing at the Blue Sky Through Iron Bars: Choy Chi-keung Visits Famous Dwellings to Send Hope to Imprisoned Friends

Vincent van Gogh painted his masterpiece 'The Starry Night' while gazing at the night sky through the iron bars of his asylum window. When Hong Kong political scientist Choy Chi-keung stepped into that same room, he couldn't help but think of his friends behind bars, hoping they too could see the blue sky beyond the iron. This journey to the former residences of famous figures in Britain and France was not only Choy's reflection on history but also a way to convey the belief in 'waiting' and 'hope' to those inside the walls.

Choy Chi-keung, a former senior lecturer at the Department of Government and Public Administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is a well-known political commentator. He told CNA that Hong Kong has undergone immense changes in recent years, significantly shrinking the space for political discussion. As he reached retirement age, he felt it was time to step down, yet his decades-long writing habit led him to write reflections on history instead of direct politics.

While he no longer comments directly on politics, Choy admitted he still feels 'anger and sorrow for the world.' This indescribable emotion led him to travel writing and film criticism as an outlet. In 2024, he published 'Dwellings of the Adults' in Taiwan, and in 2026, he followed up with a second volume covering over 20 Western historical sites.

During his travels, memories of the turbulent years in Hong Kong and his friends 'inside the walls' often surfaced. One landmark that left a deep impression was Château d'If near Marseille, the prison of the protagonist in 'The Count of Monte Cristo.' Choy noted that all human wisdom is contained in the words 'waiting' and 'hope,' a message he hopes his friends in darkness can believe in today.

Choy also visited the prison where Robespierre was held, reminding him of Nietzsche's warning about not becoming a monster while fighting one. Another essential stop was Van Gogh's residence in St-Rémy. Standing in Van Gogh's room, Choy noticed the iron bars on the window—something he hadn't seen on a previous visit. At that moment, he thought of his imprisoned friends, wishing they could still see the blue sky.

In the book's afterword, Choy shares that a friend who was recently released told him that even the smallest glimpse of blue sky from a narrow gap in a cell window could provide renewed energy. This cultural journey through the homes of Dickens, Churchill, and others eventually coalesced around the themes of 'blue sky' and 'hope'—a quiet vigil for those far away.