Say hello to your birthday twin this summer at HOTA’s Happy Birthday 2U2 installation
If you’ve ever been curious about who else shares your special day, a new installation at HOTA is making it easy with a giant birthday twin hunt. On Friday November 29, the Gallery welcomed Happy Birthday 2U2, an interactive installation by Japanese artist Hikoko Ito that turns the simple act of swapping hand-drawn birthday cards into a heart-warming moment of human connection.
Inspired by a cherished family ritual, Happy Birthday 2U2 invites visitors of all ages to create a birthday card for someone who shares their special day. Part of the magic is never meeting your birthday twin face-to-face. Instead, your hand-drawn card could brighten the day of a stranger across the country, and the card you receive might be from someone nine, ninety, or somewhere wildly in between.
At the centre of the installation is a maze-like cluster of 366 colourful birthday mailboxes, one for each day of the year and each decorated with a unique happy motif. These symbols are reimagined versions of the Chinese character 樂 (meaning happiness) created by Hikoko Ito and her late father, Sun Chan, to celebrate joy in all its forms.
You might like
Over 350 local students have already set the installation running, filling the first wave of birthday cards with colour, imagination, and good vibes. Now, visitors are invited to keep the chain of generosity going by crafting their own card using prompts inspired by artworks from HOTA’s collection.
Wholesome, playful, and quietly profound, Happy Birthday 2U2 is a celebration of togetherness and reminder of Ito’s gentle affirmation – we are here — together.
The installation will run until Sunday March 15 2026, daily and for free at HOTA.