Kith Tsang-“Hello! Hong Kong-Part 3”by Lam Ka Lee, Carrie (1042512)

Concept behind “Hello! Hong Kong – Part 3”

"哈囉！香港 - 第三集這是【哈囉！香港】系列的第三集，亦即是第三件同 名作品。目的是提供一個閱讀本土歷史的途徑。這件 作品的參照來自去年年初我開始研究的中國節日慶典 儀式。作品的靈感來自我近日對海港（香港之源） 的思考。（曾德平）”


"Hello! Hong Kong - Part 3 This is the part III of the series "Hello! Hong Kong". It is also the third piece of work with the same title. The aim is to provide a way of reading local history. The reference of the piece comes from my study of Chinese festivals in Hong Kong early last year. The inspiration is my recent thought on the port, the origin of Hong Kong.”(Kith Tsang)

About the art work

~Primary materials: bamboo, sheets of galvanized iron
~A bamboo bridge to one side of it where may serve as a viewing position
~2 metres long papier mache(紙板) boat had been placed inverted
~2 slide projectors projected a sequence of photographic images onto the side of boat
~1 showed coloured slides of weathered wall surfaces and advertisements
~Another one showed blurred black and white images of construction in progress along the waterfront of HK harbour
~Projected images simultaneously, images were allowed to overlap

What tells from the required reading "Para/Site Space"

~Fragile upturned boat: recalled HK's habour
~Papier mache boat: local craft skills whose survival is endangered as older practitioners fail to find apprentices to continue their trade
~Nanyin: vanishing tradition, melancholy tone reinforced the sense of loss conveyed by the visual’s elements
~Weathered Surface shown in the projected images: associated with the past and its loss or erosion
~Photographs of the harbour into bottles: gesture of preservation , recalled the traditional method used for preserving beancurd and other food products

Conclusion

~“We sigh on seeing such for what accompany our growth are fast disappearing with the passing of time and the modernization of the city. I think Tsang is reluctant to let the past being ruthlessly wiped off. What he tries to do is to establish the local secular history and cultural sensibilities through the reconstruction of his memories and imaginations”
~“Memories and history come from the lost as well as from the preserved, just like a partly-buried old drawer can be seen as a partly-protruded old drawer.

Question

With more and more traditions and landmarks (like Star Ferry Pier) are disappearing in Hong Kong, what do you think can be done in order to maintain Hong Kong cultural identity as an artist and the public like you?

Reference

http://www.para-site.org.hk/_pre/96_kith1.html
http://finearts.hku.hk/hkaa/artists.php?artist_id=057=057
http://www.parasite.org.hk/_pre/edwin_lai.htm