Piazza showcases local art

Local artist Chan Po-fung, aged 26, has a workshop in an industrial building in Fo Tan. Last month, he joined the Fotanian creative market. His specialty is to transform waste into accessories, for example, connecting metal bottlecaps to make a modern bracelet.

 

Mr Chan’s masterpiece is a pair of bracelets called “I would still find you”, made from a broken jade bangle mounted onto a brass frame. It won the Good Design of the Year Award at the 2013 Chinese Design Awards.

 

He does not consider fashion trends when crafting his jewelry. Instead, he attempts to find something of interest in daily life to inspire him – such as the pipes commonly seen outside the Fo Tan industrial buildings where he works. They prompted his design of a nifty bracelet-ring set.

 

“I hope my design can trigger people’s imagination. Let’s imagine our arms and fingers are water pipes and ducts. The bracelet and ring I designed look like the metal rings which connect the pipes and ducts.”

 

Many designers like to incorporate elements that recall their childhood. Mr Chan is no exception. The pinball maze games he played with as a lad were the inspiration for a brass bracelet with a circular track in which a pinball rolls around.

 

Interaction generator

He welcomes the opportunity to showcase his work at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza market.

 

“People do not necessarily have to buy my products. Their appreciation encourages me and motivates me to continue to do my creative work.”

 

Freelance artist and illustrator Gabrielle Tam also joined the Fotanian creative market for the first time last month, to display her own silkscreen design products, including greeting cards, stickers, tote bags and books.

 

The 24-year-old said it was a positive experience: She was satisfied both with the sales she made – and the feedback she received.

 

“The location of the Cultural Centre Piazza is ideal. Besides local people, many foreign tourists will come to visit the market. Even if we don’t speak the same language, we can communicate through body language,” she said.

 

Ms Tam usually sells her goods online, so she welcomed the face-to-face interaction with customers. She recalled an encounter with an appreciative mother who bought one of her books for her young son.

 

The book depicts 10 different animals and plants with an unpleasant appearance, including a dirty pig, an ugly frog and a thorny cactus. The text reads: “Would you like to give them a hug?” At the end of the book, the reader learns that these creatures were morose and in need of a hug.

 

“The mother said my book’s content is educational and encouraging, and that is why she decided to buy it for her son.”

 

Social interaction

Mental Health Association of Hong Kong members also relish the chance to garner appreciation for their work at the piazza market. Mentally disabled people ran 30 of the 50 stalls it operated at its market.

 

Law Kam-choi knew nothing about making handicrafts, but an instructor showed her the steps to make paper artwork such as paper flowers and gift cards. She now has the skills and a flair for the work. She went along to help sell the products and was elated when a shopper bought a dozen of her cards.

 

Instructor Annie Wong said the market does much more than simply provide a platform for their disabled members to showcase their artistic talents.

 

“Every time we bring them out to the market, they are keen to meet people. This helps them develop social skills and build up their confidence.”

 

The next Mental Health Association market will take place in the piazza again on June 1.