Foo Tak Building — A paradise of Art lovers
Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.
― Henri Nouwen (1975)
Hong Kong is a city being seems as a ‘Cultural desert’ by many people, the development of art is such a desperate dead end. The government racked it’s brain to remove the Stigma of ‘Cultural desert’, such as Revitalization of industrial buildings and the plan of west Kowloon cultural district.
However, those works are such counting chickens before they are hatched. While everyone feels disappointed, an artist hub appeared on the corner of a downtown.
It is a traditional and ordinary business building located in Hennessy Road, Wanchai. As many old building in Hong Kong — 14 floors with two units on each floor. It is not easy to find indication that this building is a art and cultural entities. However, when visitor walk inside, they’ll find that there are many difference cultural groups ,arts workshop and gallery.
It was originally a normal aging building before the owner participate a talk about development of art once. After that the owner determined to rent house out to different artists and the rental is much lower than the market price. Now, it finally becomes a paradise of Art lovers…
Cat guide
Bu Bu is a pet cat living at 14/F. It always chit chat around. Although it knows how to climbing up and down the stairs, it like waiting and taking lift more. Bu Bu is a prefect guide to lead visitor visit and see around.
View in Foo Tak
Foo Tak Building ‘s success make people to rethink the government’s art policy and the possibility of art development. ‘Its location is quite good.’ The chairman of Visible Record said. ‘To Compared with PMQ or JCCAC, there have not rule to limit our work. We can do everything we want. No one will come and ask me to close or open door. The management of Foo Tak Building is flexible.’
The director of Ying E Chi said that the application of renting Foo Tak Building is more easier that official floor. ‘On 2004, i hear that Foo Tak Building was planing to be rented to local artists. So, I handed in a proposal. Then after a face-to-face interview, the application was accepted.’ The coming society moved to Foo Tak Building on 2013. ‘We only spend half year to wait the application accepted.’
‘I love this place. I love working in that environment. It is what i exactly search for …’ Inkgo, a worker work on Art and Culture Outreach said.
