At long last, I'm happy to share the series of artwork we created, commissioned by Chinachem Group for their new building Echo House at Tonkin Street 28, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong. A year long journey that begun as a request for a single artwork for their Club House, which expanded into a larger project spanning the lobby, a club house wall, and a children's playroom. 
Concept Inspiration- Laputa, the flying island from Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver’s Travels”, a place of imagination and the mix of innovation and tradition. I was also inspired by the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli animation, Laputa and Nausicaä that explores the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and technology. Nausicaä, the heroine of Valley of the Wind, deeply touched me with her quest to understand and coexist with nature.
This is not just a work of art but a portal to an enchanted world made entirely of forgotten fabrics and stories interwoven through time. Merging the techniques of needlepunching, felting, smocking, knitting and crochet, we hoped to create a garden in the sky that does not need watering.
The art pieces have been upcycled from discarded remnants collected from different parts of Hong Kong, each carrying a history. Swatches from well-loved clothes, old tapestries, and abandoned draperies were first gathered, and then transformed using traditional techniques by female factory workers who was once part of the textile factory force behind Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s.
The textiles tell stories of the city, whispers of family gatherings, and secrets kept by those who wore or used them. Each thread imbued with the emotions of the past, creating a tapestry rich in history and memory.
I'm very grateful for the invitation by Carmen Kwok, who worked with our team closely during the year long project, and very much to Patsy Hui and John Kao for their 200% trust in our team to have invited us to create one art piece after another. And of course, last but not least, big group hug to our team, Vivian Hui Fun, Kam Lan, Ying, and Edwina.
It was definitely not a project without challenge, it was a big learning curve for us to work bigger scale and creating something that needs to withstand time in the building, for sure, next time we will do better!
Photography by Gabriel Leung, The Light Particles.
