FUNNEL OF CURIOSITY

A dai pai dong meal in Tai Hang, a cup of fragrant coffee, chitchats around the table, then a stroll around to uncover interesting shops, such were my holiday routines. All the while, I have witnessed all the ups and downs around the coffee cup here, especially that 30s tong lau on number 4 second lane, when it was first renovated into a trendy coffee shop, then forced to undergo a tacky makeover. For a time, I thought there was no going back…

One day, I found the concrete lying deep underneath restored, so I entered through the galvanized iron frames and glass door, like stepping into some young designer’s world of delight, at times fashionable, at times quiet as Zen. The guide who stood quietly by the side would always turn my doubts into awe; gradually, all these developed into recurring bouts of curiosity, and this space became one that I just had to drop by every time I visit Tai Hang – THE SHOPHOUSE.

I remember my first entry through the door; Carefully, and with a light audible tap, I landed on a rectangular stone, very ceremonial. One of the owners Alex Chan said, “This was the steppingstone in front of the doorsteps of the shop at the back alley. The new owner gave it up, but we thought it’s beautiful, so we brought it back.” Qing Shan, the other owner, added, “It serves as a doorbell too and signals to us when a customer has entered.” Alex hopes that travelers from different places may set aside their assumptions and destination-travel mentalities, and, with aimless curiosity, explore this union between old things and new perspectives, to feel an authentic Hong Kong.

My senses are especially attuned to textiles and upcycled creations. This time round, I saw on the shop’s ground floor a row of canvas bags, coasters and cushions decorated with Kantha stitch embroideries all over. They turned out to be from Antimacassar.  Antimacassar is a collaboration between the Shuktara Trust, founded by English textile designer David Earp to care for homeless children in India, and Indian fashion designer Debasish Das.

Sipping English breakfast tea brewed in a pot from Hong Kong’s one and only Bing Kee Copper Ware, I listened while Alex recalled, “I came across these textile works during a visit to the tea company Postcard Teas. I loved it at first sight and invited them to create these textile works based on the tone of THE SHOPHOUSE.”

Each combination of fabrics is unique, and the fabrics are sourced and handsewn by members of Shuktara Trust and women and youth in the village, based on clients’ requirements.

The village is on the banks of the ganga about 2 hours outside of the city, Kolkata has no electricity supply. Antimacassar teaches women in the village and young girls in Lula Bari to do traditional Indian hand embroidery, to enable them to create textile works at home and earn a stable living to improve their livelihoods, so that they need not be completely reliant on their husbands or making puffed rice. Part of the profits goes to supporting Shuktara Trust to continue their work in caring for homeless children.

We went up the wooden staircase in the tong lau and passed through the tea room in the loft, quietly admiring the exhibits and listening to the guide’s explanation, until we reached the top floor and heard, “These are upcycled from the cardboards that Louis Philo used to cover the floor when colouring his works over the past ten years…” My ears stood up on their own again at once.

Each drop of colour and colour combination on the cardboards documented a different creative journey, natural and unintentional, modern yet familiar. Louis thought of his visits to the museums when he was small, when, seeing things and relics so carefully archived in drawers and shelves, he became drawn to that solemnity. Thus, he grouped the cardboards by colours and tore them by hand for reassembling and framing.

“I love the process of recycling or reimagining how materials can be reused and thus given new meaning. I have long been drawn to reusing materials in a creative way, particularly materials that are thought to have no inherent value such as cardboard. I love the fact that this material is ubiquitous and every day, and yet it can be used to create something beautiful and thought provoking.” Louis said.

Louis Philo hails from a powerful family. His mother is Celia Philo, who designed David Bowie’s album covers, and his sister Phoebe Philo is former creative director of fashion label Céline. He did not take advantage of his privileges to set himself up as an artist, but simply took pleasure in art making, until he found an approach that represents himself – emulating ancient people to convey messages through collected tree branches, taking cues from his feelings in the moment and different musics, he arranges the forms and colours  of the branches.

Coincidentally, we also do not quite relate to “Danshari” ideologies that encourage the renouncing of things. Alex said, “I don’t understand people who want brand new things when they move. To an extent, that’s throwing away one’s past.” They emphasized that be it very expensive artworks or very cheap fast fashion products, once things are bought, they should be cherished, used daily, bestowed with one’s own personality and enhanced with new values.

I lifted the teacup in my hand, a work of Steve Harrison’s, priced at over five thousand Hong Kong dollars. They would bring it out to serve their customers for tea tasting, never letting it sit aside for mere appreciation. I asked jokingly, “What if a customer breaks it, does he pay the full price?” Qing Shan said, “Yes, but the full price for the cost of Kintsugi reparation!”

At last, I asked them, what do they expect their customers to take away from this space? Alex said, “Reconsidering everyday life.”