The upcoming renovation of Shum Shui Po may not spell the end of traditional life in the district, as Winnie Chau discovers at the “Our Life in West Kowloon II” exhibition.

Awaiting the axe of the Urban Renewal Authority is a group of post-war Chinese buildings, or Tong Lau, standing opposite Sham Shui Po’s Tin Hau Temple. Before their inevitable fate comes later this August, one of the buildings has been tasked with the mission of telling the stories of this idiosyncratic part of West Kowloon.

“Lou Ji Se” (“Rubik’s Cube”) is the theme of the exhibition, adopted to highlight the creative use of space in this dynamic district. The floor plans of old shops remind us of a disappearing way of life, and the three-floor displays and installations divert our focus from the stereotyped poverty of the district and turn it towards the multi-faceted aspects of life in Sham Shui Po.

The entire exhibition uses cardboard boxes as the central element. Why? “It’s a versatile item in this old district. It can be used for storage, a ‘home’ for the homeless and even a ‘business’—people collect cardboard for recycling. It connects closely to their lives,” says Tim Li, the exhibition’s art director.
When it comes to heritage preservation, the people matter as much as the place: 300 residents of the district each presented their own favorite items to be photographed and displayed, not to mention the moving powerful portraits of the inhabitants themselves. But the contribution is not confined to people living in Sham Shui Po; blank drawing paper is provided inside cardboard cubicles in the “Think Room,” for visitors to reflect upon the exhibition. “Our intention is to allow people a space to reflect on the community spirit we have,” says Li. “They can decide whether we should extend it or let it die out. Perhaps there’s even something else we can do.”

“Our Life in West Kowloon II,” Jul 13- Aug 10, 55-57 Kweilin St., Sham Shui Po. Guided tours of the exhibition and several local landmarks are available in Cantonese, Mandarin and English (reservations recommended).
The contents of the exhibition have been compiled in a book, “West Kowloon: Where Life, Heritage and Culture Meet” ($150, all proceeds will be donated to the Society for Community Organization) available for sale at the exhibition and on the organization’s website, www.soco.org.hk/olwk2.