A Story of Wandering
EVENT DETAILS
A Story of Wandering
Introduction
The Mills has invited local artists specialized in different media to work with its craftsmen, to showcase the beauty of craftsmanship in the forms of artistic creation, exhibition, workshop, music, and picture book. Surrounding the theme ‘A Story of Wandering’, the series of events is to be available to the public during this July and August.Concept
In praise of slow —A Reminder for People Living in the Cities
In such a fast-paced society, hardly are we given enough time to catch our breath. We would, if we could, fully control every second of our lives, and never again have to hear the whisper in our heads that says ‘If I had a choice…’ Or, at the least, it would be nice to have time to do something that we are passionate about. The inconvenient truth is that the rapid urbanization and technological advance since the Industrial Revolution have made it impossible for us to live as we please as it fundamentally changes our conceptions of lifestyle, of mind and soul, and of time and space.
The Mills has invited local artists specialized in different media to work with its craftsmen, to showcase the beauty of craftsmanship in the forms of artistic creation, exhibition, workshop, music, and picture book. Surrounding the theme ‘A Story of Wandering’, the series of events is to be available to the public during this July and August.
Today, most of the daily necessities we purchase are of mass production with standardized designs. Crafts are quite the opposite: It takes time to master. Created by one’s own hands, the crafts in the making are constantly adapted to requirements or demands of a specific individual, which is about uniqueness, characters, and conscious decision to redefine our way of life.
Into the Mills: See, Hear, and Feel the Stories
Cyanotype x ‘Ng Fuk Coi’
Garling Lai is a local travelling cyanotype artist currently residing in Malaysia. She transfers this age-old photographic technique to fabric and intends to highlight the essence of different countries’ heritage. For this exhibition, she has learnt from scratch to make ‘Ng Fuk Coi’, a back-to-basic tailoring of qipao innovated by Jody Kan, founder of Qipao Tang. Lai is to tell stories with the cyan-blue silhouettes and dreamlike prints on the traditional garment.Exhibition – A Story of Wandering – Cyanotype x ‘Ng Fuk Coi’Date：4/7/2020 – 30/8/2020
Venue : The Mills 1/FSharing Session – Cyanotype x ‘Ng Fuk Coi’
Guest Speaker : Garling Lai / Jody Kan
Date：4/7/2020
Time： 1pm-2pm
Date：Qi Pao Tang (Shop 104A)
Cyanotype Artist
Three years ago (in 2017), I was travelling all around Malaysia and I had many uncertainties of what to expect. Carrying a backpack that was nearly the size of me did not deter me exploring different local textiles, culture and to share my knowledge of Cyanotype.Cyanotype (aka ferro-prussiate printing), is an old direct sunlight printing process where the angle of light, amount of exposure and types of medium would influence the final result of a blue and white image, which is well known as blueprint.
Besides capturing moments with my phone in Malaysia, I kept exploring the unknown possibilities of using cyanotype as prints. Surprisingly, curator – Him Lo, who discovered my early works in Malaysia, became simultaneously the ‘matchmaker’ for this collaborative project between me and Ms. Jody from Qipao Tang.
Blueprint to me symbolises an action plan for the future. Without action, blueprint would never materialize. It would only remain a figment of the imagination.
Same could be said of our own history and culture. If we do not pass down our knowledge, it will be lost forever. For goals to be realized, we must put our plan into practice. It’s like if I had not travelled to Malaysia, my work may not be here today. My artistic journey explores the meaning of history, by presenting my works today and passing on knowledge to inspire our future generations.
Lai Garling
Music and Craftsmanship in Harmony
Bowen Li is a local pianist and composer. The stories of three craftsmen at the Mills provided him the inspiration for creating three separate songs, which will be played during the entire exhibition period.
Artist: Bowen Li
Date：4/7/2020
Time：3pm-4pm
Venue： Concept to go (Shop 126-127)
Pianist / Composer
Bowen Tsz Wo Li, a pianist and composer, actively performing and collaborating with
different bands, ensemble and art groups in Hong Kong and London.
Li studied in London at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Bmus), where he
majored in jazz performance and composition, and graduated in July 2018. Bowen received
tuition from some of the best in the field including Martin Speake, Mark Lockheart and Liam
Noble.
During his time in London, Li performed with various groups. He played at Ronnie’s Scotts
with the Traditional Jazz Ensemble, and actively performed at Vortex, Olivers, Blackheath
Halls.
Since moving back from London in summer 2018, Li performed widely in Hong Kong. He
played at music festivals such as Jazz Gala ‘The Legends and Beyond 2019’, Freespace
Jazz Festival 2019 and Festival Hong Kong 2019 — A Cultural Extravaganza in Shanghai. Li
also collaborated extensively with a wide range of arts group such as Wuji Ensemble x
Mo-Men-T ‘Boundless Groove’, Director Tsai Ming-liang ‘Tsai Ming-liang’s Film, Favourite
Music, and Live Improvisation’, Chung Ying Theatre Company ‘All My Life I Shall Remember’
and Bel Canto Singers Group ‘Esther’ and ‘When Mozart Meets Da Ponte’, where he
performed the role ‘Mozart’.
He is an active member of Hong Kong jazz scene, frequently performing at local venues
such as the Fringe Club, Visage One, Wontonmeen, Lost Stars, 1563, Salon 10, Peel
Fresco etc.
Other than performing, Li is very dedicated to composing. He has composed and arranged
music for big bands, medium ensembles, jazz bands and solo piano, and has led his group
Bowen Li Trio/Quartet performing original music at various occasions.
Li also devoted his time to music education, teaching jazz piano and music theory at Tai Yat
Music Education, tutoring in Hong Kong Youth Jazz Collective and touring in secondary
schools under Bel Canto Singers to perform for students.
Children’s picture book – ‘Greeny Runaway’
The Mills has partnered with Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children to create a story for a children’s picture book named ‘Greeny Runaway’, and brought local illustrator Charlene Man on board for the project. The book is about the adventure of a traffic light ‘green man’, where he set off for the Mills and in the streets of Tsuen Wan to discover the stories in the neighborhood.
Children’s Picture Book
Embroidery Badge
Touch and Taste the brilliance of craftsmanship
The Mills has co-hosted an outdoor dining experience with Kids Club, a local organization aspired to strengthen the connection of the community and to combine farming into education. A one-day workshop in the nature, from working in the field to having a meal at the table, guarantees you a refreshing experience. Cyanotype artist Garling Lai’s workshop will teach you the principles and techniques of dyeing, qipao master Jody Kan’s workshop will teach you to tailor-make a ‘Ng Fuk Coi’ with your blueprint-cyanotype cloth, and local organization Breakthrough Art Studio’s workshop will take you to the field to explore the possibility of weaving with natural materials and teach you to create a one and only weaving product.
By slowing down, we will see the artistry of craftsmanship, and from there, we are to rethink our priorities in life.
Make your Wufucai workshop
In developing the wufucai process, Master Jody Kan was moved and inspired by the line from I Ching “leaders let their robes fall, and the empire was governed”. Meaning when people enter the era of civilization and law, they start to understand the importance of rituals and virtues suggested in classical texts.Date : 8, 15, 22, 29 August (Saturdays)
Time: 2:30 – 5:30
Fee: HKD2,500, total 4 sessions
Location: Qipao Tang, Shop 104A, The Mills
Enquiry：Community@nanfung.com
Cyanotype workshop in the field
** Due to the new social distance policy implied for COVID 19, the Cyanotype workshop has been postponed until further notice.
Come and learn the principles and techniques of dyeing from cyanotype artist Garling Lai, and enjoy some freshly made farm snacks at the field table while doing so! Afterward, you can also use the blueprint-cyanotype make your own wufucai at qipao master Jody Kan’s workshop at The Mills!Date: 1 Aug 2020 (Saturday)
Time: 10am-2pm / 2pm-6pm
Fee: HKD600/person; bring your child for an extra HKD200!
Enquiry：Community@nanfung.com
Touch and Taste the brilliance of craftsmanship
** Due to the new social distance policy implied for COVID 19, the Weaver workshop has been postponed until further notice.
Other than the cyanotype workshop, local organization Breakthrough Art Studio’s workshop will take you to the field to explore the possibility of weaving with natural materials and teach you to create a one and only weaving product. Plus freshly made farm snacks!Date: 18 Jul 2020 (Saturday)
Time: 10am-1pm
Fee: HKD550/person; bring your child with extra HKD200!
Language：Cantonese
Enquiry：Community@nanfung.com
