After submitted the project proposal in December 2009, I have done something for preparing my project. But honestly, I know that I have not spent enough time and still have not put much effort on it due to the duties which I need to handle for the CIL Creative Bulletin #2 during December 2009 to January 2010. I know it is never an excuse but... Anyway, let’s share and see what I have done in the following.

I have started to do some more research in the main topic of my work, King’s Road. Why? The reason is I think I need much more historical information or reference to support my work, besides my own memories and stories which started from there. What I familiar with King’s Road is just some part of it (especially somewhere around my living / lived place, i.e. the end of King’s Road near Kornhill.). I need to know more about the King’s Road in an objective view besides what the images which flow in my mind.

Searching in Library

First of all, I have go to the Library for searching the useful information. All we know Library is always the database with all the things you want. It is always powerful than just using Google, I think.

The two books below are borrowed from the school library (Run Run Shaw Library):

香港東區街道故事/ 夏歷著
港島街道百年 A century of Hong Kong roads and streets / 鄭寶鴻編著

Both of them are the historical materials which supposed to be useful on my work. But, I do not agree at all.

For the first one ‘香港東區街道故事’, it covered many historical backgrounds ad stories about many streets on Hong Kong Island. But, I think its tille is something tricky. It is supposed that “香港東區街道” means the streets of Eastern District. But, after reading the content page, I saw nearly half of it is talking on Wan Chai. Anyway, I still some related topics like the story in Tsat Tsz Mui and Tsat Tsz Mui Road (七姊妹道) and some reasons on building the King’s Road. (Actually those things I have heard about it while my mother and the pervious online research.)

Pages about Tsat Tsz Mui Road (七姊妹道)

For the second one ‘港島街道百年’, I think it is much useful as it is a photo album actually. Many old photos of streets on Hong Kong Island can be found. But, like the first book mentioned above, it is just very little pages on talking about King’s Road.

An old picture of a tram located on somewhere near Fortress Hill nowadays

Until 2 February, no any books are founded in the both the school library and public library. Although it is not a great result towards my project, it shows the fact that I raised before (in the project proposal) – not much book talking about King’s Road.

Online Searching

As the poor result in the findings from library books, I try to doing online searching again. One wonderful link is founded. I never imagine that it is full pictures which I wanted to find. And you will never think that it is a sub-page of a famous local discussion forum, Uwants.

北角及鰂魚涌懷舊
http://www.uwants.com/viewthread.php?tid=7900566

It just likes a lively encyclopedia on North Point and Quarry Bay. Although many of the pictures are no quotations which I do not know the original source, all can be the visual reference for my project. One more advantage of this site is the numbers of people involved. I found that there are many people joined in this topic for keep discussing the old issues of North Point. I have not talked to them yet but I would. I hope I can find much useful historical information from them.
Here is some changes of King’s Road outside Metropole Buildings taken from the forum:

196x?

1980s

1990s early

2001

2009

Here is another great example which I found. It is a the old Bus Depot of China Motor Bus, which I still remember the images in my mind (although I am 3 at that time). Now, there is a Shopping Mall.

1990

2000

Government Records Service

Suddenly remembered that one of the instructor of SCM said before, the government office at Kwun Tong is something full of historical records. As the result, I go searching online. It is named as Government Records Service actually. It’s got a online searching engine. I typed “King’s Road” and “英皇道” for searching. Many old documents is found. Old threw photos can be founded. But photos are something like news photo, like the scene after the flooding and the Japanese Army (Tanks) appeared in 1940s.

Japanese Tanks on King’s Road?!

Anyway, I think I would go to the Office at Kwun Tong to try to find anything useful.

Photography and Illustration is the two directions which I supposed to use. The reason is just simple. I love still images.

I am just thinking if combining them or just two independent “work”.

Since the very beginning on thinking about GT, I have a clear target that I would like create a book as the final outcome. Book is the medium which I always focusing on it because I know it is a form which I can easy to handle with less technical issues. I do not want to spend a large proportion of time on solving the technical problem rather than the content of my work. So, I always think in a book rather than other formats.

Another reason is the great success of many local illustrators / artists for making graphics works / books about Hong Kong issues which I have mentioned in the project proposal.

But, while I worked and participated as a Organizing Committee of CIl Bulletin #2, I think I should try to plan how should I present my work in the exhibition at a very beginning. It is because the artist should have the right for planning how to present it work. Otherwise, it may just increase the workload of the exhibition curators or even hurts both sides with an unhappy ending as the bad setting. As the result, I start to rethink the work format.

If a book is presented finally, what did I set up? An environment looks like a book store? A coffee table with a comfortable chair looks like a café? I m still thinking...

But, an interactive installation will be different. As an installation, the whole setup would not be changed much while it is being represented in the others places. So, I am still thinking if my project can apply it any kind of installation.

One more reason for applying into an installation is the traditional of CIL graduates’ work. It is the characteristics of CIL works. And it would more attractive while it is showed to the public.

But, anyway, all are still planning. It is a subject to be confirmed.

Actually I faced a big problem on booking equipments through the Production Centre. It is supposed that the staff of Production Centre will contact if the e-money I requested is not permitted at the end of December 2009 as I have leave my contact number when I submit the form. BUT, they NEVER.

Anyway, as we known, no phone call is always the best means no problem on the equipments. But I am just afraid that why I can’t use the e-money on the booking system. In the mid-January, I have checked that there are similar cases of some classmates. I just think that I may the problems on Production Centre as the new booking system.

But, until now, my project shown in the booking system is still “processed”. But still no any e-money is assigned. Why? NOBODY has contacted me for this.

You may say it is my responsibility. Yes, I agreed. But, I don’t think the Production Centre have no duty on giving me a reply if my requirement is unsuccessful. ANYONE can help me? ANYWAY, I hope I can solve this by my own by going to Production Centre directly in the coming few days.

Website Re-design and Re-launch

I want to this for a long time. And I hope I can do this in the following week.

Collection on comments and feelings on King’s Road

It is not only by interviewing people face to face, but also came from the online discussion on the forum. And even open a group in Facebook.

Site-visit

I would go to King’s road for photo-taking during the Lunar New Year Holiday. At least I can use the photo for making a draft of my work.

Planning on format and artwork presentation

I hope I can find a best solution on present my work in the coming days.

Solving the e-money and booking issues

I hope I can solve it very soon. I hope I do not need to make any complaints about the services of Production Centre.