People’s life will be completely altered if their everyday work is given another function.
The textile industry in Hong Kong expanded rapidly after the war. The golden age of the manufacturing sector in Hong Kong was between the 1950s and the 1970s. The number of cotton mills and dyeing factories in Tsuen Wan rose drastically, as did the working and residing population. As a result, the community and its auxiliary facilities were also established. An entire community was once bound together by a thread of yarn. But who would have thought that the seemingly insignificant activity of knitting once served as a means of promoting awareness and providing support for frontline soldiers during the war?
The Mills has been invited be a curatorial partner of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s (HKADC)15th Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme (AAiSS). The Mills collaborates with artist Vvzela Kook to present a different knitting story through multi-media art. We may reflect on how knitting as an everyday activity might revolutionise our daily lives if it is given a different function. The situation is similar to that of today’s intelligent technology, which improves our lives but also has potential drawbacks.
The Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is an arts promotion scheme for primary and secondary schools. Since its launch in 2008, the Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme (AAiSS) has amassed an alumni of more than 16,000 ambassadors from primary, secondary and special schools who have demonstrated their artistic talents and potentials while inviting others to partake in the fun of creating the arts, living out the cooperative spirit of ‘Live in Art, Thrive in Sharing’.
The 15th AAiSS will be held from August 11 to 27 at The Mills. There will be a multi-media art experience, “I Wonder Who is Knitting for Me”. The event is open to the public free of charge.
Curated and created by artist Vvzela Kook, “I wonder who is knitting for me” explores knitting techniques used at significant moments in history. The event will feature a series of engaging activities to delve into various aspects of knitting and its connection with the city. The details of the event are as follows:
(1) City Sketches Workshop
Vvzela Kook has created many works on urban morphology and historical research since 2015, gradually developed her method of using croquis sketches to observe the city and record the research process. In this workshop, the artist will share her research process on using drawing to do records in past works, introduce her usual drawing tools and how to use them. Finally, she will observe and perform croquis sketching in Tsuen Wan with fellow participants to explore its former status as a textile manufacturing district.
Date & Time | 26 August 2023 (Sat) 14:00-17:00 27 August 2023 (Sun) 14:00-17:00 |
Venue: | The Annex M01A, The Mills |
Target: | Aged 12 or above |
Quota: | 10 for each session |
(2) Knitting workshop
The binary nature of the knit and purl stitches was utilsed for espionage by spies during the world wars. In this workshop, the artist will instruct students on how to knit and purl using needles and yarn, and you will have the opportunity to knit a basic scarf with a coded message.
Date & Time | 25 August 2023 (Fri) 16:00-18:00 |
Venue: | The Annex M01A, The Mills |
Target: | Aged 12 or above |
Quota: | 10 |
(3) Artist Guided Tour
Join the “I wonder who is knitting for me” Artist Guided Tour, Vvzela Kook will guide you through the creative inspiration behind her artworks and explore the undefined.
Date & Time | 19 August 2023 (Sat) 14:00-15:30 19 August 2023 (Sat) 16:00-17:30 |
Venue: | The Mills |
Target: | Aged 12 or above |
Quota: | 10 for each session |
Notes on Registration:
- In case of oversubscription, allocation of places will be determined by drawing lots.
- Participants will receive a confirmation e-mail upon successful registration. Please observe related notification.
- All events will be conducted in Cantonese.
- Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) reserves the right to decide and alter the operation of the activities at its own discretion.
