Wong Uk
Sha Tin, Hong Kong | 2017
“我還不知道如何與你建立關係”
“I am puzzled about how I should connect with you.”
The Old House at Wong Uk Village
Wong Uk is a centuries-old heritage house situated in the southwest corner of Yuen Chau Kok, Sha Tin. Despite being a long-time resident of Sha Tin, Lam Tung Pang had never visited the house until the project precipitated their encounter. To get to know the old house, Lam would visit several times a day, “in the morning, in the evening, during sunny and rainy days, so I know what it is like in different weather conditions.” It began to feel like he was visiting an old friend. He started writing notes to the old house during these visits and, on one memorable afternoon, dancing with it – moving to a rhythm that only they could hear.
Memories of a Place
As Lam’s relationship with the house deepened, he also forged ties with the people connected to the house, learning its many stories from long chats with the security guards on duty, interviews with Wong Uk descendants overseas, and a chance encounter with a former village head. The story of Wong Uk Village reflects the history of Hong Kong’s urbanisation: founded in the 18th century, it served as an important transport hub for travellers on the route between Guangdong and Kowloon, then fell into ruins and was later demolished to make way for the development of Sha Tin New Town. The old house is the only remaining physical marker of this history.
Furniture
To make the old house feel more like a home, Lam scoured Hong Kong for old furniture that seemed to belong with the house. Lam has always been interested in furniture and the stories they are imbued with through the life of their owners. As he collected pieces from across Hong Kong, Lam was also collecting the stories of the families they belonged to, and bringing them into one place.
Potted Plants
In addition to old furniture, Lam collected broken branches from the grounds of Wong Uk, replanted them in his studio, then moved them back to the old house. Some of these plants were on the verge of extinction in Sha Tin, and bringing back their vitality breathed new life into the house to rejuvenate the space.
“Sha Tin is one of the districts in Hong Kong where it is possible to experiment with the co-existence of urban and rural areas. Wong Uk’s existence is like the punctuation marks in a lively text, pacing the rhythm of the city, and connecting Sha Tin’s past and present.”
- Lam Tung Pang
