16 September, 2012

Switch Off and Listen

I love music. All kinds. The scene in Hong Kong has changed a lot over the last six or so years, but despite it getting generally better, I still take my hat off to those who get up there and perform, no matter how great the crowd. No matter how great the talent. Hey, sometimes I'm one of those people.

Joshua Thomson is a British artist who has come to Hong Kong and set up an Avante-Garde vinyl-only record label, which plans to also publish limited edition themed newspapers. Sounds like my cup of tea.

Follow him @platinummetres


27 July, 2012

The olympics are coming and HK feels the love...

Chatting with my cousin a couple of weeks ago, he expressed concern that perhaps the Olympics weren't happening because there was a severe lack of in-yer-face advertising and sponsorship products here in Hong Kong.

I know what he means, even in the 80s I remember collecting the plastic insides of Coke bottle tops, with illustrations of Sammy the Eagle... and being given a large and miniature plush of Sammy (I fell in love with him).

I suppose since the 2008 Olympics were held in Beijing and – according to The Economist – Hong Kongers felt most Chinese and patriotic about the Mainland then, whereas this year, they now feel as little Chinese (or patriotic) as ever.

I have to admit, that although I made a plan to avoid the UK during the Olympics, when I did visit in June I was quite surprised by the effort made to celebrate and promote the Jubilee and Olympics – all part of the Great British Summer, as it's been officially tagged.



So, when, on my first weekend back in HK I came across 'Little Britain' in Times Square, I was highly bemused. The effort was sweet and of course, certain details were completely wrong...




locals seemed to love it.



With a slight HK irony of the Olympics being held in Beijing and then London, I wonder if Hong Kongers now feel more British than ever, especially given how delighted most people were with the last election and CY Leung.




Only in Hong Kong...

Lots of little strange things happen here and while some things may not be strange in other places, I say that context can be everything.


Fong Sui master
Mar 2013, Blessing the building.

Unsustainable efficiency
Feb 2013, courtesy of friend
So Hong Kong.

True efficiency
Jan 2013
Ok, this picture doesn't show it all – but this is an outdoor market stall, leaning against the side of a building. I love that this stall owner has a computer linked up, ready to do her book keeping.


Shopping in HK and my iPhone are one big cliché
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There's really nothing more to say.


Hot teenagers and their summer wet dreams 
July 2012
One lovely Saturday morning, I set off for a boat trip with some friends. While waiting for them to pull round from the AMC, two wooden junks rocked up. Since I had a wait, I couldn't help but notice the name of one junk, Wet Dreams.

Ok so is that a Chinglish thing, or a joke? Hard to say.

But it made my day that when the passengers arrived, they were none other than a string of skinny international school-looking teenagers. Complete with a sound system. As it turned out, they'd hired a DJ from Drop, to surprise a friend for his birthday. The other junk in their picture was their dance floor.


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WTF can't people in Hong Kong sort and recycle?
July 2012
See my rant in the wonderful Hong Kong zine, Cloak and Dagger.


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Seriously expensive yoghurt
June 2012
Ok so yoghurt is never cheap here but this tiny pot of Australian yoghurt, which is the closest western producer of such fine dairy goods, is the most expensive single-serve I've ever seen. It's at least £3.50. It's good, but nothing is that good!

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Cardboard café
March 2012
This cha chan teng in Central is entirely clad in cardboard. As the lift doors open, it seems like a shop selling presumably recycled goods. But in fact, there's a cha chan teng serving area neatly hidden behind some cardboad bookshelves.

Visit at 9F, 11 Stanley St, Central


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The fight against dropping
Feb 2012
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Don't have fun at the beach
Jan 2012
In response to a range of noise complaints on the south side, regarding noise pollution from beach bars, the wise and wonderful Hong Kong government have decided to close a number of cafés and bars on beaches. It seems ironic now, that my complaint before was the lack of a decent deli at any of the beaches.

But it's been the entire winter and more, since the Thai place at Deep Water Bay closed, and there's been building going on. But nothing new has popped in it's place. What a huge, huge waste of space. And I might add, there are no residents adjacent to Deep Water Bay. Duh.

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Trash can crime scene
Jan 2012
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Life ring – on the 20-somethingth floor
Dec 2011


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Weight machine - classifieds
Oct 2011
 
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Dairy – HK style
Sept 2011
I thought that most Chinese people didn't really 'do' dairy, hence such products being over-priced or local versions being a bit rubbish.

But how this is appetising, especially on a hot day, I just don't know.

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Thankfully, this will never be lost.

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Bruce who? Roll over Uma, I'm taking care of this one.
June 2011

Could we add more irony?

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Tone Down Your Voice
April 2011

It's true – it's loud here.

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Beach Digger

April 2011

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Health & Safety-free Zone
March 2011
As if climbing that ladder with no-one to stabilise the bottom – and then climb onto the edge with no barrier isn't scary enough, two Banner Ad Implementation Workers (is that PC enough?) then climbed behind the banner to enable the removal. Albeit, behind the ad is probably the safest place for them and provides some kind of Jackie Chan-style stunt-action should they fall, it reaches to the third storey.

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That said, this is a fishing country and most fishermen here can't swim.



Naked Lady (what else can I say?)
March 2011

This one came courtesy of a friend. She witnessed the woman depicted stop her car during a busy Monday morning in Central, take her clothes off and stand naked on top of her car.

Ok, so this might happen in other places, but the fact that it happened here is what's so amazing!
Strangely, we couldn't find any news reports about this...

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Golden Dragon
September 2010

Checking out some taps on Lockhart Road, Wan Chai.
To be sure, this tap costs HKD $25,800. No kidding.

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Fight Club
August 2010

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As I said – Chinese people love to fight!


Frozen Coke
August 2010

Getting shaved ice at 12.15am from the local desert shop... eating it on a step nearby... getting in the car to drive to the only frozen coke vending machine in HK.





We followed the instructions, taking a quaff before closing the bottle and tipping it upside down to watch the ice form... it worked pretty well, but I've heard it's hit and miss. Best of all, imagine all the extra chemicals we must be consuming in this latest artificial offering!

Bagpipes
July 2010

Walking through Sai Wan (西環) on a Sunday, to see a Chinese man practicing bagpipes – playing Amazing Grace and in full kilt, no less – in the garage of a kindergarten.


16 July, 2012

NTRST1NG NBR PL8S

Hardcore
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
2014




































Jadeite
Central, Hong Kong
2012

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Airbus (a French person, a lover of airplanes?)
Central, Hong Kong
2012
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Puragold
Central, Hong Kong
2012

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HIP HOP
Central, Hong Kong
2012

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MUSIC
Clockenflap, Hong Kong
2011

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I Believe
Hong Kong
2011

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S1MBA (Someone loves the Lion King)
LKF, Hong Kong
2011
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RANGERS
LKF, Hong Kong
2010

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Z GUNDAM
Mid Levels, Hong Kong
2010
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SCARFACE
LKF, Hong Kong
2009

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SNAKACHE
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
2009

PLATE_SNAKACHE

U R GOD
San Francisco (CA), USA
2009

PLATE_URGOD

U R XCUSD
San Francisco (CA), USA
2009



PLATE_URXCSD



© 2009-2012 Vickie Chan

25 May, 2012

Otherwise Engaged: Hitotzuki, Suitman, Sticky Monster Lab

Sometimes, it's who you meet that makes writing such an interesting job. Especially if you're an artist, meeting a fellow artist – as a writer. Does that even make sense? I've noticed how great Korean design is and how quietly passionate the Japanese artists are. Here are a few that I interviewed for an exhibition hosted by K11 art mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.


24 May, 2012

Mobile M+: Yau Ma Tei (西九龍文娛藝術區)

In building interest, excitement and support of the West Kowloon Cultural District, Mobile M+: Yau Ma Tei (西九龍文娛藝術區) is the first in a series of nomadic exhibitions, curated by M+, the new museum proposed for visual culture.

The series of exhibitions include seven Hong Kong-based artists: Leung Mee-ping, Erkka Nissinen, Pak Shueng-chuen, Tsang Kin-wah, Yu Lik-wai, and collaborators Kwan Sheung-chi and Wong Wai-yin. Works can be viewed from May 15th to June 10th, 2012 and there are various artist talks throughout.

It's no surprise that the proposed district needs to build interest, excitement and support because the project has been sprinkled throughout the news for years, with various issues from proposals to planning. The first proposal in 2006 was overturned due to lack of planning and bad financing models. Luckily, it seems like art, cultural activities and visiting galleries could yet become a natural part of Hong Kong culture.

I was pleased that the venture produced an exhibition app with interactive map but it sadly appears that some issues invaded the first Mobile M+ project. And it wasn't mobile. The art was static, the viewers were mobile. So while some theme seemed to fit the displays, it's not that the pieces are moved around the city, reaching a wider audience (i.e. the more lazy or heat-fearing).

Finding addresses anywhere in Hong Kong is difficult enough, especially in areas like Mongkok and Yau Ma Tei. There's less signage on street corners, numbers don't always run in apparent succession and it's hot and crowded, which can make the most intent want to give up. Unfortunately, so will using the Mobile M+ app.

Starting in Mongkok, I couldn't find the Hong Kong Reader Book Store or 68 Sai Yeung Choi St South (site 10). I can read enough Chinese to match the book store sign in either language, but still no luck. I found No. 66 – and with seven flights to walk on a hot day, I gave up.





Moving on to G/F, 16–24a Waterloo Rd *enter on Portland St (site 2) to see Kwan Sheung-chi and Wong Wai-yin's collaboration, I doggedly followed the app map.

Exit B2, Yau Ma Tei. I stared at shops and numbers, I tried to spot some art, but nothing. I may have found 16 Portland St but not 16-24 Waterloo Rd. Near ready to leave, I double checked the address with my iPhone map and the site was on the other side of Waterloo Rd (X marks the spot), which you can only cross at the intersection because it's a main carriageway with cement dividers.





Kwan Sheung-chi and Wong Wai-yin's To Get a Gold Coin is a simple but great idea. Vote for your core values for Hong Kong and then choose whether to keep the real gold coin, or symbolically toss it into the harbour. Just the ratio of those two choices interest me, regardless of the best 'value' that's offered. It's such the Hong Kong conundrum. Preserve, love or get rich fast.





Luckily the info hub (site 1) and Yu Lik-wai's work (site 12) were opposite, in the same building as each other, on the same street.





I particularly liked the use of space and Yu's dramatic use of imagery, overlapping old and new, referencing Hong Kong living spaces and people.





Also nearby on Portland St, sites 3 and 4 showed interesting nostalgia work by Leung Mee-ping. The recycling shop was perhaps my favourite, for so many reasons. The subtlety of the art work in situ, the explanations of those posters – it just fit seamlessly into normal Yau Ma Tei.


The thought of seeing his installation in the public sitting area lit at night was really exciting, but Mobile M+ finishes at 7pm, so I can only presume, those antiques aren't workable.





Uncle Po Bible Calligraphy (site 8) was a near miss – the TV screen was barely noticeable, perhaps because it wasn't showing Pak Sheung-chuen's work – it was blank. Wandering along to site 9 to see Pak Sheung-chuen's other work, all I could see was a white tent with fencing and chained gates, along with some Mobile M+ signage – but no art. Continuing to Kansu St to see Tsang Kin-wah's piece, I gave up. I couldn't find that one either.


While the app was frustrating to use, it's good to see digital developments and I think Mobile M+ could encourage more galleries and Hong Kong Art Fair (or Art Basel, Hong Kong) to develop apps themselves. I also wondered why the map numbered pieces all over the geographical place. Were we supposed to view them in order? Technical writers are titled as such, for a reason. Good dissemination of information.


The art that I did see from this exhibition was interesting and it's always a pleasure to see more Hong Kong artists being talked about (at #ARTHK12, I heard lots of comments about the opening night of Mobile M+). It would be nice to see a wider range of artists in the field and as time passes, hopefully we will.


For more information about the exhibition, visit the Mobile M+ site. Use maps at own risk.