News

(4 August 2014 – Hong Kong) Organzied by New World China Land Limited (“NWCL”, Stock code： 917. HK) , the art and cultural exhibition of contemporary sculpture entitled “City Trace Memories – The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong” is officially open to public on 2 August. The exhibition is on show at Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan and New World Tower, Central from 2 to 16 August and 11 to 22 August respectively. Apart from six contemporary sculptures featuring the ICH items in Mainland China, NWCL showcases an art installation named “The Urban Cultural Typecase” designed by a local craftsman as well. Meanwhile, a paper cutting light box workshop will be held at Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan on 9 August 2014, providing a platform for public to produce an exquisite light box featuring Hong Kong ICH items by using environmentally-friendly materials. In order to deepen next generation’s understanding of Chinese traditional culture, NWCL arranges a guided tour for around 20 underprivileged children and their parents on the opening day. Those tour participants are under the New World Springboard Program organized by New World Development Company Limited (“The Group”, Stock Code:17. HK). 

NWCL launched  “City Trace Memories – The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong” as an extension of the roving exhibition in Mainland China and the U.S. to echo with the announcement of first intangible cultural heritage inventory of Hong Kong by The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) on 17 June. NWCL adds the local element to this exhibition by specially inviting Tse Kwok Wah, one of the very few experienced white iron matalsmiths in Hong Kong, together with the local social enterprise Run 2 Tree to produce a unique “Urban Cultural Typecase” art installation. Based on the model of movable type printing featuring Chinese characters, the “Urban Cultural Typecase” art installation is made of white iron and has a series of specially designed devices named “Silhouette Window”. Those devices skillfully interplays light and shadow, through which visitors can explore Hong Kong ICH items such as Fire Dragon, Bun Scrambling Competition, making techniques of Bamboo Steamer, white iron, Cantonese Opera and Movable Type Printing. The design of whole installation presents not only the essence of Movable Type Printing, but also the beauty of high-rise blocks in picturesque disorder in the city, showing that NWCL has been always concerned about the city’s history conservation and committed to creating high quality urban environment.  In addition, posters and a custom-made chop with the pattern designed on the basis of seven ICH items on display are set beside each sculpture. The public can tailor make the unique posters with different chops on site, which is the best way to promote the folk wisdom. 

In the purpose of deepening the future generation’s knowledge of ICH, NWCL arranges the guided tour for approximately 20 underprivileged children and parents under the New World Springboard Program organized by New World Development Company Limited, introducing about the campaign concept and each sculpture. 

Hong Kong is the last stop of NWCL’s roving exhibition campaign. NWCL launched this nationwide campaign entitled “New World Memories – A Tribute to Intangible Cultural Heritage” in September 2013. “Sichuan shadow puppet show, Shandong nut-craving, Shenyang song-and-dance duet, Hubei Wudang martial arts, Guangdong dragon boat and Guizhou Miao embroidery” have been selected as “My Favourite Intangible Cultural Heritages Items” by over ten thousand people from an online voting activity. A team of art professors from Tsinghua University are invited to create six sculptures based on the shortlisted items and the final art pieces have been exhibited in China. The campaign has netted a Gold Award in the category of “Community Relations – Cultural and Sports” in the 11th China Golden Awards for Excellence in Public Relations organized by the Chinese International Public Relations Association (CIPRA). 

After the great response received from China, NWCL was invited to bring intangible cultural heritage of Mainland China and Hong Kong to the international stage through “New World China Week” event in the National Mall of Washington D.C., U.S. in May 2014. NWCL invited Champion Lam Siu Ngong to demonstrate his handful skills of making “Yuanyang” beverage. Also, over 10 experts of Chinese intangible cultural heritages were invited to demonstrate the making of pinwheel, ventriloquism, lantern making and paper cutting, which enabled the audience to experience the magnificence of the Chinese traditional culture.