Book Review: “Once upon a Hong Kong” — capturing the fading beauty of an ominous city?
On 28th August, I joined a virtual reading and sharing session with the artist, Don Mak of his new book, ‘Once Upon a Hong Kong’ organized by the local indie English bookstore, Bleak House Books. This article is a summary of the dialogue with Don and my thoughts inspired by this book.
Something about the book
The author’s intention
‘Once Upon a Hong Kong’ is a book inspired by the Czech author, Miroslav Šašeks’ ‘This is Hong Kong’. Sensing the rapid changes of the city, Don wanted to immortalize the Hong Kong he adores with his drawing skills, hoping that his daughter can see what the city he grew up in looked like in his eyes in the future. In order to provide a neutral narration to understand the pictures, Don invited writer, Miss Black Cat to leave her words under each drawing.
The creation process
Although the book was published in the summer of 2020, most of the pictures were accomplished in the summer of 2018. Don said that it was a fairly relaxing and fun process, as unlike commercial works, he was mostly responsible to himself.
A fascinating fact is that the creation process of the book was inspired by jazz. However spontaneous a jazz band might seem to be to its audience; every player of the band is indeed well-prepared for the performance with an accurate sense of how a note and rhythm should be. Since Don was learning to listen to jazz music during the creation process, he had done full preparation by contemplating the details of the drawings; however, during the time of the act of drawing, he allowed himself to move his brushes freely, following the flow.
The content and structure
Most of the pictures are the everyday moments of the city scenes where some are the streets Don walks by daily and some are places he likes. It is evident that his sense of belonging to Hong Kong is the theme of the book. However, if you observe the pictures closely, you will also realize that the pictures range from the depict of mundane daily lives to extraordinary traditional customs.
By adding a depict of the iconic funeral home, ‘The Hong Kong Funeral Home’, Don successfully conveys the message of ‘this is Home Kong’, where people experience life and death in their home city.
There are three drawings in book that were created during and after the summer of 2019. Try to spot them yourself!
Capturing the fading beauty of an ominous city
A blessed land or an ominous city?
Since the British colonial time, Hong Kong has said to be a blessed land where it is immune from major serious natural disasters. It was a city with flourishing opportunities, diversified cultures and safe outlet for freedom of expression. Growing up in the 1990s, Don also experienced himself Hong Kong as a blessed land.
However, like many hongkongers, he has been aware of the invisible force which transforms the city day by day, bit by bit. It seems that the force has been more visible and unfortunately more destructive in the eyes of an overwhelming majority of hongkongers in recent years. There have been countless ominous signs signifying the dissolve of the city’s beauty and blessings.
A victim or a warrior?
What can one do living in the middle of the rather uncontrollable events and changes? Perhaps this is the question that many hongkongers, especially artists have been asking themselves. I think Don has answered the question with his work. Despite the frustration, he implied that it is not necessary to feel and act like being oppressed all the time.
His inspiration to me is that there is always a choice of attitude. It is not impossible to channel our anger and frustration into something beautiful, for example, the open-ended stories of drawings.
Once upon MY Home Kong
During the session, when asked about his interpretation about certain pictures, Don hesitated. It was not because, as he ‘confessed’ to the participants at the beginning of the session that he is not very good at articulating in words. Indeed, it was more about the fact that he did not want to limit readers’ imagination and relatability by his comments. This is not only a book about his relationship with the city, but also a book for everyone who regards Hong Kong as their homes.
After all, he is more interested in how his readers find themselves in the pictures. Indeed, the possibility of open interpretations is the real magic of this book. I would say this book is created from his impalpable love for Hong Kong.
Perhaps we can share our stories to Don and one another by putting hashtag #onceuponmyhomekong!
My Thoughts
There are many books published in response to the events happened since the summer of 2019. Most of them are descriptive writings about what had happened in Hong Kong. It is true that the war of remembrance and forgetting is inevitable and important, but how to win?
‘Once Upon a Hong Kong’ has confirmed with me that the answer lies in more creativity, kindness and love.
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!
ps. Many thanks to Albert, the founder of Bleak House Books, who made this interesting online dialogue possible.
