In the past few days, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of Koon Man Space! The photography exhibition “Hak to Hak” is fortunate to be held at this commemorative milestone, featuring the special invitation of photographer Bobby Sham. Using the traditional large-format photography to capture the essence and daily lives of local villagers, bringing their stories to life in each portrait. Recent graduate Kylie Chan will showcase her unique imagery, documenting the connections formed while interviewing villagers and learning to make tea cakes. Additionally, participants from the earlier Kuk Po photography tour organized by Koon Man Space captured countless outstanding works, which will also be presented in this exhibition (selected by So Hing Keung).
Artists from different generations have been invited to showcase their work, enriching the diverse perspectives of Chuen Lung Village through their art practice and life experience, and establishing a spatial connection with another revitalizing Hakka village, Kuk Po Village, to reflect and recreate the philosophy of “Hak”(Guests). Their works serve as a window, allowing viewers to glimpse into the daily lives and cultural heritage of the Hakka community.
This exhibition focuses on the theme of Hakka hospitality, reflecting on the impact of a fluid society and the digital age on community relations and interpersonal interactions. We sincerely invite you to join us in experiencing the warmth and stories of the village!
The open ceremony will be held on May 24 at 16:00, and no reservation is required.
Villagers Portraits
Bobby K H Sham(Bobpin) and The Team
Bobby K H SHAM (Bobpin) is a Hong Kong(HK) photographer. He also involves in photo art administration, curation and education. Now he is a part-time lecturer in the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of HK; the Initiator of the HK International Photo Festival(HKIPF). He had 4 solo photo exhibitions and joined many international and HK group shows during the passed twenty years. <Small Shops> was shown in the exhibition <Families 300: Live in the Moment with Happiness> (2013 HK, 2014 Beijing, 2015 Shenyang) (he also acted as the exhibition curator) presented by the HKIPF. He curated <1000 Families> photo exhibition again for the HKIPF in 2016.
His team includes Francis Fok, who was born in Hong Kong and holds a postgraduate diploma in contemporary photography. His photography journey at the age of 14 with his father’s Chinese TLR camera. His works evoke a sense of ambiguity with ordinary subjects, allowing viewers to explore their own feelings and thoughts.
OK Chan is a registered architect born, raised and educated in Hong Kong who believes in analogue photography. Upholding the belief of “No Boundary for Walkers,” OK co-founded Walking Slow in 2022 to work on community engagement, art curation and public education projects.
Chuen Lung – Kuk Po Photo Tour Work
Participants of the “From Chuen Lung to Kuk Po Photo Tour”
“From Chuen Lung to Kuk Po” A Photo Tour on Hakka Culture and Rural Nature took place on January 19 of this year. Artist So Hing-keung led over ten participants to visit the traditional Hakka villages of Chuen Lung and Kuk Po, allowing them to appreciate the cultural heritage and natural scenery, as well as experience the joy of landscape photography.
So Hing-keung selected works from six participants to be showcased in this exhibition: Au-Yeung Wan Man, Chan Ka Lun, Chan Yau Hong, Cheuk Ngai Ho, Esther, and Vincent Chan. Their photographs capture the bittersweet essence of the villages’ abandonment, alongside the resilience of cultural revival through conservation, highlighting the vibrancy and hospitality of the Hakka people in each unique landscape image.
A Sip of Time: Video and Photo-book on Duen Kee
Kylie Chan
Born in 2003 into a Hong Kong family that loves local culture, her creative inspiration often comes from Hong Kong’s unique cultural landscape and human stories. Using personal narratives as a starting point, she integrates her experiences into her work, allowing viewers to enter the heart of the story through her perspective, thereby triggering their own memories and cultural associations. Through various artistic forms, she aims to preserve and pass on these precious cultural memories while giving them new vitality.
This time, Kylie visited Chuen Lung Duen Kee Teahouse in search of the unique taste of the Traditional Hakka Fevervine Herb Rice Cake from her childhood memories. She was fortunate to have the owner personally teach her the techniques of making rich cake. Starting with leaf picking and through a series of explorations and experiments, she successfully recreated the flavors from her memories. Kylie hopes her practical experience can serve as a platform to bring more attention to these traditions and raise awareness of the importance of cultural preservation, inspiring more people to participate in this collective effort.