HERITAGE OF MEI HO HOUSE
“MUSE FEST HK 2019” PROGRAMME SERIES

To echo the theme of MUSE FEST HK 2019’s “Curating the New”, the Heritage of Mei Ho House has organised a special programme “The past, present and future tense of Mei Ho House” allowing participants to re-create the experience of visiting the Museum and connect with the Sham Shui Po community.

In the “Artists’ Viewpoint: The Past, Present and Future Tense of Mei Ho House”, three artists from different sectors – the founder of “LomfaFair” paper artist Redtonetone, founder of “Form Society” Mr Wong Tin-yan and artist Mr King Lau – created different forms of artwork to depict the past, present and future tense of Mei Ho House. With expert paper craftsmanship, Redtonetone created “The view of Hong Kong” using paper made of local plant fibre and a traditional papermaking process, showing the Hong Kong Lion Rock spirit. Mr Wong Tin-yan created “Miracle Cure” by upcycling the old tables & chairs of Mei Ho Café to be the “Welcoming Icon”. With the concept of conservation, the artwork welcomed visitors from all over the world to learn how the Grade II Historic Building Mei Ho House was revitalised from public housing into a youth hostel. Mr King Lau drew “The Ukiyo-e of Mei Ho House” with his understanding and imagination of the past, present and future tense of Mei Ho House, as well as its connection with the Sham Shui Po community.

In addition, the Museum organised an AR (Augmented Reality) Guided Tour and Dramatised Guided tour for the first time. In the AR guided tour, the participants used AR technology to understand and appreciate the past & present of Mei Ho House.

In the dramatised tour, the Museum was turned into a drama theatre in which actress, Ms Buber Mak (who also wrote and directed), performed together with actor, Mr Dennis Lau. They transformed themselves into old residents of Mei Ho House. The past of Mei Ho House was vividly connected to the tour participants through this performance.

The Museum has also collaborated with a Sham Shui Po community organization, the “Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres”, to organise a “Sustainable Development Workshop – Natural Laundry and Stain Remover Soap”. With the aim of using potato juice and other natural materials to create soaps that are both highly detersive and environmentally friendly.

As well as the above guided tours and workshops, the Museum also arranged a talk with the “Viva Blue House Project” so that more of the general public could learn how these two historic buildings, with Hong Kong locals’ collective memories, were revitalised into to new ones.

Last but not least, a community screening and sharing of “The street, the way” was organised to enable the public from different walks of life to listen to community stories collected during the city renewal process. It is hoped this could provide the public with an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of sustainability.

The response to the Heritage of Mei Ho House “Muse Fest HK 2019” Programme Series was overwhelming! Thank you so much for all the support from the collaborating partners and public! See you next year in MUSE FEST 2020!