Back to school

Creative storytelling

The revitalization of Koon Man School was conducted under the aegis of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's Development Bureau, which manages the "funding scheme to support the use of vacant government sites by nongovernment organizations".

"With over 60 years of history, Koon Man Space is witness to the daily lives of the villagers across generations," says HKPCA board member Leon Suen. "Koon Man School not only served as an educational establishment but was also a place where villagers would gather. This aligns perfectly with our idea of starting a photography education and resource center in a space that connects people and is community-oriented."

The HKPCA invited two artists, Ki Wong and Pak Chai, to create the inaugural exhibitions. Over two years of field study, Wong collected old family photos and listened to stories about how and why they were taken. Next, she would go on to make her own artworks, often coming up with subtly defamiliarized versions of the original photos by zooming in on a particular detail, painting over certain areas or creating the impression of decay. For her exhibition, The Rock and the Gaze, Wong collaborated with poet Lau Sim, who tried to unlock the stories trapped in the photographed moments by using the images as writing prompts. The stories he produced are on display alongside the photos that inspired them.

Wong and Chai co-led the second inaugural exhibition, Photovoice: Bits and Bobs from Chuen Lung Villagers. Three participants with sustained Chuen Lung connections, including Tsang, were invited to take photos of the village. Heidi Chak, the daughter of a documentary photographer Chak Wai-leung and herself a teacher of photography, found beauty in the gutter. Her photos of the moon reflected in a puddle resonate with her trying to come to terms with her father's death in 2021. Chan Wai-cheong decided to revisit some of the locations in the photos in an old family album and click them again, presenting the old and new versions in a series of collages.

Tsang set out to look for the flora and fauna he remembers from his childhood, with mixed results. He admits that "trying to capture a bygone time to go looking for certain things embedded in my memory - such as fruits of mulberry trees and canistels" is a bit of a futile exercise. "Being armed with a camera has made me realize that many of those things cannot be found anymore."

Suen, however, points out that the point of Photovoice lies elsewhere. The program has motivated the participating villagers to take a renewed interest in their home turf, produce fine pieces of "creative storytelling" - made particularly special by "the incorporation of personal narratives". All of the above "contribute to the cultural enrichment of the neighborhood, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for its history and the lives of its residents".

Besides, Koon Man Space is envisaged as a platform where traditional wisdom meets modern viewpoints. As Suen puts it, "Through the medium of photography, a profound connection is forged between this centuries-old Hakka village and contemporary life, sparking meaningful conversations, deepening people's understanding of Chuen Lung, and preserving the precious memories of its residents through creative expression."