Revamped Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre reinterprets local traditional culture (with photos)
After a large-scale revamp of exhibitions, the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Centre at the Sam Tung Uk Museum will be fully open to the public from tomorrow (November 3). The new "Lost and Sound – Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage" Exhibition Series, featuring about 40 Hong Kong ICH items, will also be launched to showcase the wisdom of folk craftsmanship and the vibrancy of folk culture in Hong Kong.
The revamp works have been the largest since the inception of the Hong Kong ICH Centre in 2016. The major part of the works was to restructure the gallery and activity space of the Centre, covering an exhibition hall, row houses, dwellings, orientation rooms and an activity room.
The three themes of the exhibition series are "Hong Kong Festivals and Traditional Craftsmanship", "Ordinary ∙ Extraordinary" and "Sam Tung Uk and Traditional Village Culture". Architect and artist, Mr Stanley Siu, was invited as the Guest Curator and around 30 ICH bearers participated in the production of the exhibitions, which showcase an array of local traditional culture and craftsmanship including the techniques of making flower boards, lion heads, wood carving, Hong Kong cheongsams, guangcai, Chiu Chow sugar loafs, mahjong tiles, galvanised iron products, dim sum and bamboo steamers, as well as performances in traditional festivals such as hand puppet Cantonese opera, bayin (eight categories of instrumental music) and unicorn dance. In the gallery, visitors can also hear the sounds associated with ICH matters, such as the noise of the hustle and bustle heard at festive occasions, the sound of sewing cheongsams with sewing machines, etc, as introductory concepts to experience what it is like at these scenes.
With the injection of more artistic and multimedia elements, the revamped Centre reinterprets local traditional culture in an innovative and creative way, enabling visitors to learn more about Hong Kong ICH and the history, culture and architectural features of Sam Tung Uk from a new perspective.
"Making Joy: ICH Fun Day" will be held on December 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 to raise public interest and understanding of ICH. Through the ICH Funding Scheme, "ICH Domain" will be launched in the Hong Kong ICH Centre in the coming two years (2022 and 2023). ICH activities will be organised for all local kindergarten, primary and secondary students to have fun learning about ICH.
The Hong Kong ICH Centre, located in the Sam Tung Uk Museum, 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, was established by the ICH Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). It aims to enhance the public understanding and awareness of ICH through various educational and promotional activities. For details of the exhibition and other ICH activities, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/ICHO/en_US/web/icho/exhibitions_activities.html, or call 2411 2001 for enquiries.
All persons will be required to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter LCSD offices and venues except for exempted persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above and those with disabilities that render use of the app difficult. Exemptions will also be granted to individual persons depending on the actual circumstances. All exempted persons are required to complete a record form to register their personal particulars and the date and time of their visits. As it will take time to verify personal particulars of exempted persons under the new arrangement, their waiting time for using public services or entering the relevant venues may be lengthened. The LCSD suggests that members of the public arrive early, and appeals for their understanding. The department also encourages the exempted persons to use the app as far as possible to save time.
