Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival Tours and Programmes 2023

EVENT DESCRIPTION

As the second edition of Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival approaches, curator One Bite Design Studio is delighted to announce this year’s tours and programmes, designed to immerse visitors in the captivating stories of the islands.

From November 15, 2023 to January 14, 2024, embark on 360 regular free guided tours in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, led by docents from Kaifong Tour, a social enterprise which focuses on community building through guided tours; dive into 69 specially designed themed tours and 98 programmes, catering various interests of participants including art and craft making, culture, music, sports, conservation, and family activities. As Christmas approaches, groove to the tunes of busking and diverse performances that will infuse the Festival with festivity. Rooted in well-researched island stories, the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival promises to unite people through activities celebrating the islands’ diversity and rich cultural offerings.

Regular Free Guided Tours – six distinctive routes to uncover stories on the islands

This year’s regular free guided tours follow six distinctive routes, each unveiling a unique facet of the islands. Starting from 22 November 2023 until the end of the Festival, the tours are available in Cantonese (Tuesday to Sunday), Mandarin and English (Friday to Sunday and public holidays), except on Mondays which are “self-exploration days”. Advance group booking and individual registration are available on the official website.

● Catholic Approaches (Yim Tin Tsai) – Trace 300 years of Catholic history on the island.
● Arriving in the Hakka Field (Yim Tin Tsai) – Discover how the nomadic Hakka people found their roots on this salt-producing island.
● Art We Crave (Yim Tin Tsai) – Witness the artistic evolution of Yim Tin Tsai since the inception of art festivals in 2019.
● From Far Away to Nowadays (Sharp Island) – Explore the remarkable topography of Sharp Island, part of the Hong Kong Geopark.
● Unearthing the Fishing Gems (Kau Sai Chau) – Zoom into the picturesque Kau Sai Village, tucked away from the well-known public golf course.
● Rippling in Hakka Fishery (High Island) – Uncover parallel village cultures, one on land and one in the water.

Themed Tours – six expanded tours to dive deeper into unique island culture

For those keen to interact with the Festival on a more specific level, six expanded themed tours are in place for further explorations. In particular, families can look out for the Running Dinosaur tour designed and led by the curatorial team, which allows younger visitors to role-play dinosaurs as they learn about the topography on Sharp Island. Alternatively, immerse in nature’s meditative embrace with the Trace with Five Senses tour run by the School of Everyday Life, which guides participants to encounter the Tung A Village through their senses. Those interested in herbal therapy may find interest in the Weed Discovery Channel tour led by seasoned eco-tour guide Stony Ng, which opens visitors’ eyes to common Chinese herbs found on Kau Sai Chau.

Artist-led workshops and programmes highlight

In addition to tours, the Arts Festival offers ample opportunities for visitors to experience activities unique to the islands and interact with the artists to learn about the artworks. To create a safe space for artists and visitors to engage in deeper exchanges and conversations, the Festival offers a series of artist-led workshops under the “Join the artist” series. Led by artists who create the respective installations on the islands, each workshop takes a different form to allow participants to have a deeper understanding of the artworks.

To understand the unique history of the islands, villagers are invited to lead programmes like stone milled “ningo” (rice cake), joy of fishing, “kirin” (dragon-lion) dance and dragon boat workshop to introduce their traditional activities and share their stories. Sports and outdoor enthusiasts can indulge themselves in the trail-running workshop, camping and guided kayaking workshops to marvel at the natural wonders of Sai Kung. Those interested in conservation and craft may delight in learning the traditional craft of net-weaving, fabric-dyeing and salt-making. Culinary fans may be interested in Caa4 gwo2 (tea cake)-making, cooking, and even sea-urchin hunting. Closer to Christmas, enjoy the many busking and live performances from Chinese music to DanceSing and Performance Sundays, from rope-skipping to indigenous instrument jamming. The Festival practises inclusivity and thrives to provide activities suitable for everyone to explore the many stories the islands have to offer.

Island-hopping kaito (ferries) experiences

Last year, we created a unique island-hopping experience for visitors to visit Yim Tin Tsai and Sharp Island one after one. This year, the Festival-exclusive island-hopping “kaito” experience will continue to be offered, with an additional route extending to Kau Sai Chau and High Island. These two triangular island-hopping routes enable visitors to visit two islands of their own choice in one day:

Route 1: Sai Kung <-> Yim Tin Tsai <-> Sharp Island
Route 2: Sai Kung <-> Kau Sai Village <-> High Island

Visitors will need to pre-book the island-hopping kaito tickets from the Festival website and redeem the tickets at the Information Kiosk on the visiting day. For the best festival experience, it is recommended to visit no more than two islands on each visit. A multiple-day visit allows for sufficient time to explore all the hidden gems on the islands.

While the artworks on the islands are open for visit and all the programmes and guided tours are free of charge, visitors will need to arrange their own transportation to the islands. Besides island-hopping kaito, visitors may also get round-trip kaito tickets at Sai Kung Pier to get to Yim Tin Tsai and Sharp Island from various kaito operators’ counters. For visiting Kau Sai Chau and High Island, public kaito services will be newly launched in November 2023 right before the start of the Festival. Visitors may try out these new kaito services to reach Kau Sai Chau and High Island in about 30 minutes and 45 minutes respectively.

“Join the Artists” Workshop Series

The Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival invites you to embark on a captivating journey into the world of art with our “Join the Artists Workshop” Series. This unique opportunity allows participants to get up close and personal with the creative minds behind the festival’s stunning installations. Participants are invited to dive into the artistic concepts and processes, fostering a deeper connection between art and their own imagination. The list of available workshops during the Festival period is as follows:

1. Listen/Narrate the Weather Writing Workshop (Sai Kung):

26/11/2023 (Sun) 11:00-12:30

24/12/2023 (Sun) 14:30-16:00 

Corresponding artwork: Joy Again, Stories: Dashing Through Weather’s Lapse

Artist: onebite, The Moving Atlas 

●      Immerse yourself in Sai Kung’s present weather and recollect past moments with similar conditions. Rewrite your stories with plots and dialogues, weaving a rich tapestry of recollections. 

2. Portraying the Landscape (Yim Tin Tsai):

9/12/2023 (Sat) 10:45-12:15

7/1/2024 (Sun) 10:45-12:15

Corresponding artwork: Island Log

Artist: MADE, Sim Shum

 ●      Invite you to go beyond words and express yourself, as well as create your own story about the salt field through imagery. Reflect on your relationship with the landscape through art.

3. Story Telling (Yim Tin Tsai):

    2/12/2023 (Sat) 13:45-15:15

    Corresponding artwork: The Glazed Island

    Artist: Keith Chan, Stephen Ip, Arnold Wong

●      Join artists to share and discuss the island’s stories that inspired their installations. Explore Yim Tin Tsai’s history, geography, salt-making, and more through a unique storytelling experience.

4. Plant Together (Yim Tin Tsai):

16/12/2023 (Sat) 13:45-15:15

Corresponding artwork: The Glazed Island

Artist: Keith Chan, Stephen Ip, Arnold Wong

●      Collaborate with artists to plant species around the artwork, exploring the connection between salt, nature, environment, and recycling. Witness nature’s transformation as it gradually blends with the art.

5. Stone Stacking Workshop (Yim Tin Tsai):

      3/12/2023 (Sun) 10:45-12:15

      24/12/2023 (Sun) 13:45-15:15

      Corresponding artwork: Stone and Shrine Circle

      Artist: Match Chen, Wich Chau

●      Promote mindfulness and strengthen your connection with nature through stone stacking. Escape the hustle and bustle of life as you find serenity in the process.

6. Dialogue with Artists: Learn Life and Death from Arts (Yim Tin Tsai):

    25/11/2023 (Sat) 10:45-12:45

   Corresponding artwork: ??

   Artist: Dylan Kwok

●      Reflect on life and death through art as you explore installations near the Yim Tin Tsai graveyard. Join a thought-provoking dialogue with the creators.

7. A Grand Pineapple Bun (Sharp Island):

9/12/2023 (Sat) 14:15-16:15

     Corresponding artwork: A Grand Pineapple Bun Tour

     Artists: Maoshan Connie, St. James’ Creation

●      Discover the stories hidden in the land as you walk in the hills, listening to tales behind ceramic pieces. Create your own Sharp Island mini-soil clay sculpture, adding your narrative to the landscape.

8. Origami Workshop (Sharp Island):

6/1/2024 (Sat) 11:00-12:00

      Corresponding artwork: Ocean Says

      Artist: Stickyline

●      Explore the creative process behind the giant seashell metal sculpture. Craft geometric paper seashell sculptures and experience the transformation from two-dimensional to three-dimensional art.

9. Imagination with Daylight (Sai Kung):

18/11/2023 (Sat) 14:30-16:30

Corresponding artwork: Moonrise in Daylight

Artist: Breakthrough Art Studio

●      Engage in pin-shaped string art using dots and lines, unlocking unique ways to capture the island’s beauty and nature through photography.

10. Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage (Kau Sai Chau) – Bamboo Steamer Making Workshop:

30/12/2023 (Sat) 10:30-13:00

30/12/2023 (Sat) 14:00-16:30

Corresponding artwork: Sails

Artist: Inkgo Lam

●      Craft a traditional bamboo steamer from scratch, guided by contemporary bamboo artist Inkgo Lam. Learn bamboo weaving techniques and take home your own bamboo steamer.

11. Co-Narrative Workshop (Kau Sai Chau):

9/12/2023 (Sat) 14:00-16:00

Corresponding artwork: Weaving Waves Pavilion

Artists: Su Chang, Sherman Lam, Andie Lam

●      Join a guided visit to the fishing village and Weaving Waves Pavilion, unravelling village histories and the geographical environment. Imagine new communal connections in coastal areas.

12. Work with the Newness, Think of the Past (High Island):

      10/12/2023 (Sun) 14:00-15:30

      23/12/2023 (Sat) 14:00-15:30

Corresponding artwork: One-Sixth Land

Artists: Sammy Chow, Ceci Yiu

●      Discover the creative ideas behind High Island’s artwork, then create your own hexagonal rock pillar artwork during this crafty and engaging workshop.

13. Let the Balls Roll (High Island):

      16/12/2023 (Sat) 13:30-14:30

      16/12/2023 (Sat) 15:00-16:00

Corresponding artwork: Rhythmic LANE

Artists: Napp Studio & Architects, Fragrant Village

●      Play with different-sized balls to create unique rhythms and sounds in the Rhythmic LANE installation. Experiment with various materials, sizes, and sounds.

14. Drawing Project with Hong Kong Soil – Clay Slip (High Island):

      23/12/2023 (Sat) 10:15-12:15

Corresponding artwork: Dear Sea

Artist: Niko Leung 

●      Explore soil as a painting medium and use the most humble materials to create works of art. Unfired soil will turn into mud when added with water, which can be transformed into watercolor/advertising paint to paint on paper, allowing participants to jointly create works inspired by the land.

15. Drawing Project with Hong Kong Soil – Clay Ball (High Island):

     13/1/2024 (Sat) 14:00-16:00

Corresponding artwork: Dear Sea

Artist: Niko Leung

●      Mud may be inconspicuous, but when exposed to high temperatures it can be fired into pottery, which can become the bricks and tiles used to build a house and the most beautiful tableware. This workshop allows participants to witness how unfired clay can be transformed into clay balls, which can then be used to make vases or become clay pens that can be used for drawing on paper.