In the narrow alleys, there are Shanghai-style barber shops which have stood for decades. Between small stores, there are craftsmen and vendors specializing in clock repair and knives sharpening. Among the old buildings, there is a market made up of stalls covered in iron sheets. The market is alive with people and vehicles, a chaotic mix of sights, smells and sounds. However, for those who live and grow up here, it is an area that exudes comfort and familiarity.

 

Upon a child’s first day of school, they may feel anxious and uneasy. As they walk the same route day after day, they observe many familiar faces and sights. All of these become the backdrop of their life. After the child has grown up, they may remember affectionately every tiny detail of the once unfamiliar place, which now feels like home.

 

Many ‘Tong Lau’ (which literally means old Chinese buildings) are about to be demolished, the rail stations will be relocated, the rusty fences gradually replace the bustling streets and crowds of people. In this community where we have grown together for over twenty years, we are occasionally stirred by emotions of joy or sadness, surprise or regret upon discovering subtle changes.

 

This exhibition endeavours to capture and revive these fleeting moments of time past, reminding us of the ways things used to be. Through documenting these places and time, we hope to provide you a glance of the lives and stories that happened there. Perhaps, we will find new beauty in these images of the past, sparking memories of these magical places that no longer exist. Photographs preserve the beauty of a moment, as with time, very few things remain the same.