Description

Embark on a journey from the Lam Tsuen River to Tolo Harbour spanning art and ecology

Having wandered through the lanes of Tai Hang and savoured the stories of Yuen Long, Arts in the City, presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), is set to make an exciting return, taking the visitors and people of Hong Kong on an artistic journey incorporating the essence of arts and ecology from the Lam Tsuen River to Tolo Harbour.

The brand new art walk Flow with Tai Po will take place in Tai Po from 10 April to 5 May 2025. Curated by Art Together, four artists including Ho Yuen-leung, Miki Ho Yin-yi, Wallace Yiu Chun-wa and Chan Ting will explore the stories of Tai Po through different art forms. Four sets of "pop-up" artworks will be displayed at Tai Po Arts Centre and Kwong Fuk Bridge. The scheme has also invited various partners and organisations to collaborate with the artists, organising a series of art workshops, performances, eco-art guided tours, oral history tours and cycling tours to lead the general public in gaining deeper insights into the cultural landscape and ecological tapestry of Tai Po.

Flow with Tai Po Awaken your five senses for an artistic exploration

Rising from the Tai Mo Shan range, small streams join together and form the Lam Tsuen River. Day and night, it runs through the forest without ceasing to nourish the flora, birds, fish and insects. This 10-km river flows through "Huge Step," a place which is now called "Tai Po.” Despite the changes over time, the Lam Tsuen River remains a unique and signature scenery in the district, nourishing the local ecosystem while shaping Tai Po's distinctive way of living in the area. It is not only a moving body of water and a rich ecology, but also a living chronicle of the community, intricately connecting our lives with nature.

The four sets of artworks of Flow with Tai Po integrate the community context with the ecological environment, inviting everyone to engage their senses and explore this land of flowing waters. Ho Yuen-leung's installation "Corals Come Ashore" focuses on the coral in Tolo Harbour, bringing colourful inflatable corals into the Tai Po Arts Centre to recreate the vitality and beauty of Tolo Harbour's underwater world. Miki Ho’s community zine "Wander with Old Friends" guides the readers through the unique historical trajectories of six elderly residents, based on their personal growth stories. Wallace Yiu's ceramic work "The Silence of Fung-shui Woodland" reintroduces the protective fung-shui woodland to the Tai Po community, provoking nostalgia for the closeness to nature of days gone by. Chan Ting's audio-visual installation "Daydreaming Birdwatching House" draws from the living experience in Lam Tsuen, pondering the soulful connection among all living things.

You are cordially invited to join us in this artistic journey along the Lam Tsuen River, an ever-flowing source of tales and shared memories. Together, we will re-encounter Tai Po and further explore the wonders of this land.

Location: Tai Po Arts Centre

Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Ho Yuen-leung: Coral Comes Ashore

Once, coral reefs thrived in Tolo Harbour. However, urban development has altered Tai Po's coastline and marine ecosystem, causing the corals and the vibrant ecosystem of Tolo Harbour to fade away and gradually be forgotten, submerged beneath the waves.

A massive installation titled “Coral Comes Ashore” by artist Ho Yuen-leung centres around the theme of Tolo Harbour's corals. This cluster of oversized inflatable corals, vibrant in colour, recreates the vitality and beauty of the underwater life in Tolo Harbour in the old days. The artwork also invites viewers to participate in discussions about sustainable development and environmental protection, actively promoting the preservation of our precious natural environment.

Miki Ho Yin-yi: Wander with Old Friends

When did the water people of Tai Po "come ashore"? Have you ever tried swimming and digging clams in Tolo Harbour? This zine serves as an interactive guide leading readers—whether one is a Tai Po resident or not—to re-understand and gain a unique perspective of Tai Po through the personal stories of six elderly residents of Tai Po.

Artist Miki Ho Yin-yi was born and raised in Tai Po; and she is still a Tai Po resident today. Miki Ho engages in conversations with six elderly residents of Tai Po, attentively listening to their traces of life in this community, and discovers that their memories are related to the Lam Tsuen River. By compiling their memories into a zine, Miki Ho showcases the various aspects of Tai Po during different periods.

Chan Ting: Daydreaming Birdwatching House

Birdwatching houses are generally equipped with telescopes for visitors to observe both distant and nearby birds, as well as the surrounding ecological environment. However, this "Daydreaming Birdwatching House" is somewhat different—this small wooden house serves as a pop-up mini-projection room, presenting viewers with a semi-narrative, semi-documentary art experimental film centred on the themes of rural and urban life, and the spirit of all beings.

Lives in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, artist Chan Ting delves into her experience in the village as a starting point for creating this audio-visual installation. “Daydreaming Birdwatching House” revolves around the world where humans coexist with birds, prompting the audience to reflect on the relationship between people and nature.

Location: Kwong Fuk Bridge

Wallace Yiu Chun-wa：The Silence of Fung-shui Woodland

Trees were once an integral part of people’s everyday life. Many villages in Tai Po are surrounded by fung-shui woodlands, which provide water sources for the Lam Tsuen River and serve as a symbol of protection for the villages. Fung-shui woodlands also play a practical role in mitigating the impact of typhoons and blocking sunlight. However, over time, these villages have become deserted, and the fung-shui woods have also grown silent.

Inspired by the She Shan fung-shui woodland, artist Wallace Yiu has created a series of clay works surrounding the woods and the tree species, which will be displayed at Kwong Fuk Bridge. Kwong Fuk Bridge serves as a resting place and main thoroughfare for the Tai Po community. The works of Wallace Yiu will reintroduce the fung-shui woodlands into the community, providing shelter for the people of Tai Po—just as the fung shui woodlands do.

First Round

Event Dates: 10 – 21 April 2025

Registration Opens: 2 April 2025

Second Round

Event Dates: 22 April – 5 May 2025

Registration Opens: 16 April 2025