FU Yat-him, Horta (Lead researcher, photographer)
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Yam Ka-kit (Graphic support)
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Yam Ka-kit (Graphic support)
In-between modernism and orientalism - Chineseness in Hong Kong Postwar Public Architecture 1950-1997
In-between modernism and orientalism- Colonial Chineseness 1950-1997
Walking through the New Towns and Housing Estates constructed before 1997, one may figure out arcades with big hip roofs, landscape gardens with Zig Zag walkway, pavilion with zodiacs etc., were commonly erected along with the modern concrete towers and infrastructure. These establishments were apparently imitating the ancient Chinese architectural elements, but they are just structurally and functionally identical to the authentic one. They seemingly created “mismatch” in some senses- mismatch with the modern living function, mismatch with details and scaling, and mismatch with the building initiator which was the colonial authority. But viewing as a whole, such mismatch defines the uniqueness of modernist Hong Kong. It is an extension of design discourse from the internationally popular style such as Brutalism, Postmodernism and Space-age Sci-Fi to the architectural expression with Hong Kong locality.
Therefore, the exhibit defines “Colonial Chineseness” as a unique architectural style that is widely applied in public buildings constructed by the colonial government in the second half of the 20th Century. Through collating photos, drawings, and models, it aims to enrich the historic narratives of Hong Kong postwar modernism at the in-between cultural context.
Walking through the New Towns and Housing Estates constructed before 1997, one may figure out arcades with big hip roofs, landscape gardens with Zig Zag walkway, pavilion with zodiacs etc., were commonly erected along with the modern concrete towers and infrastructure. These establishments were apparently imitating the ancient Chinese architectural elements, but they are just structurally and functionally identical to the authentic one. They seemingly created “mismatch” in some senses- mismatch with the modern living function, mismatch with details and scaling, and mismatch with the building initiator which was the colonial authority. But viewing as a whole, such mismatch defines the uniqueness of modernist Hong Kong. It is an extension of design discourse from the internationally popular style such as Brutalism, Postmodernism and Space-age Sci-Fi to the architectural expression with Hong Kong locality.
Therefore, the exhibit defines “Colonial Chineseness” as a unique architectural style that is widely applied in public buildings constructed by the colonial government in the second half of the 20th Century. Through collating photos, drawings, and models, it aims to enrich the historic narratives of Hong Kong postwar modernism at the in-between cultural context.