Hong Kong has many faces. One of them was shown to the “Common Stage” participants by Mok Chi Yu, performer and cultural worker at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre situated in Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon. At the second day of the project, he guided us through the shimmering heat of the Kowloon Peninsula and its dictricts:

One of our stops was the district of Sham Shui Po which was one of the earliest developed areas in Hong Kong being once a commercial, industrial and transportation hub of the territory. Nowadays the district is rather known for its shopping streets and markets, but as well as for the urban decay causing loss of apartment space and housing shortage.

Also the bordering district Shek Kip Mei deals with similar problems. After the big fire of 1953 that left more than 50 000 people homeless, the public houses were built that still dominate the face of the area. Characteristically for the houses is the small space hosting far too many inhabitants. Due to their age the city started to knock them down and replace with modernized buildings which results in breaking up the social structures of the people being relocated. The quality of living might benefit in the estate sector but suffer from the sacrifice of contact.

Integrated in those structures we visited the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) where our guide Mok Chi Yu works as cultural worker. JCCAC sees itself a multi-disciplinary arts village and arts centre. But the problem is that many artist cannot afford living only by their artistic work, have daily jobs and only come to the centre sparely or at night.

“That’s the reason why journalists wrote that nobody really uses the building. They came here by day and, of course, there weren’t many people around” explains Mok Chi Yu. Still, the JCCAC was established with the desire to support art development in Hong Kong by providing space for creative work. Therefore young talents should be promoted and given studios or exhibition areas.

Here’s what Mok Chi Yu said further about Hong Kong’s art scene:

After a big lunch with all participants, our walk went on and we visited Wontonmeen – a bike shop/ hostel/ shelter for creative folks and all those aspiring to become suchlike. Regular activities there ensure the exchange between visitors, expats and locals.

When the heat reached unimagined levels, our tour reached spiritual realms. Afer travelling streets with numerous yawning dark caves of car workshops on its sides (how can it be viable if they are strung together in one place?), the strong scent of joss sticks revealed the vicinity of a temple. Hidden from the rush in an inner yard the temple contrasts with its surrounding.

Following the Kowloon tour day also the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, hosting school of “Common Stage” from Hong Kong side, was brought closer to its visitors from the other cities. Located in the heart of Hong Kong island the school felt like another world. At the official Welcome Dinner of the project the numerous impressions could be digested and strengths could be collected for the upcoming weeks.