Theme and subject
How would you describe Sham Shui Po? People’s initial impressions include “old buildings,” “poor people,” and “chaos.” The desolate urban environment and the people passing by on the streets gave the area its atmosphere. Unused sewing machines from Hong Kong’s light industries, which stopped and created much joblessness, are still visible in specific storefronts today. In Sham Shui Po, there are a lot of “abandoned” elderly people, much like the abandoned sewing machines of the industrial age. They stand in for all the former residents who were unable to use the prosperous industrial era to improve their lives enough to move into better homes and lives. Roadside hawkers swarm the streets daily, peddling anything from used shoes to purses and watches. There may also be some elderly digging through trash cans and pulling carts full of recyclables. Sham Shui Po, previously the hub of light industry and strategically located, is now a marginal area in post-industrial Hong Kong society. With the rapid economic development, Sham Shui Po and the marginalized people in Sham Shui Po are facing a crisis.
I chose a famous street, which is Apliu Street. Most people sell cheap electronics. Affordable fabrics and tailoring supplies are sold by textile merchants at the further end of the street. I found a rainy day to shoot videos because I want to use rain to symbolize the crisis that economic development has caused in this place.
Research and methodology
At the beginning of the video, I shoot some videos in Central because it is the busiest and most prosperous area in Hong Kong. It becomes better and better with the development of the economy, which can make a comparison with Sham Shui Po Street. I stayed on the flyover and filmed a time-lapse video of heavy traffic to emphasize the fast pace of this place.
And then, I went to Apliu Street to shoot the normal life of people. As you can see from the video, it is a gathering point for computer and electronics aficionados among the non-local Hong Kong Cantonese-accented vendors that sell fresh fruit, snacks, and food. It is also known for its street markets, which offer a wide variety of new, used, and odd goods that are only offered in Sham Shui Po at such steep discounts. There are also affordable restaurants that are often busy. In addition, there are middle-aged and elderly street vendors. Older women with hunched backs may also be seen sifting through garbage cans and dragging carts full of recyclable materials like flattened cardboard, newspapers, and crushed soda cans. But I didn’t film them out of respect.
After a while, as I expected, it started raining. I added a black-and-white filter for the scene where people were escaping. It is because The contrast between the white, gray, and black in the images creates an intense feeling, which makes the city darker and makes people feel the crisis. In addition, I also shook my camera to pursue the real expression of the scene and give the viewer a sense of movement. As it was raining heavier, most of the people in the street left. The rain is like economic development, and from the video, only elderly people and elderly vendors are left. They were facing a crisis because It seemed to make sense that the elderly may not want to move. In actuality, individuals frequently have fewer alternatives and resources to make the change. These inhabitants prefer the feeling of stability and familiarity since they find it difficult to adjust to unfamiliar environments. I just use the original video sound to emphasize the loudness of the rain and to feel their real life.
Reflection
Hong Kong is an advanced, post-industrial capitalist culture characterized by ostentatious consumerism, and it appears, at least on the surface, that poverty has disappeared. Even if the impoverished may not be as obvious now, they have not vanished. Through this field trip and research, I can better understand the life of people in the Sham Shui Po district and its architectural features, especially on Apliu Street. Economic development is an opportunity for young people, but it is a crisis for marginal people, such as the elderly and old vendors. For instance, while these groups of people may have had high social status in the past, this status may be lost as a result of societal change. However, it keeps raining, and the city keeps developing. Where should they go, and are they able to leave?
References
1.Chau, Chiu-fai, Fiona. Urban Regeneration in Hong Kong : A Neighbourhood Revitalisation Case Study in Sham Shui Po District, https://doi.org/10.5353/th_b4257716.
- Christopher Cheng, “Sham Shui Po: A Marginal Neighbourhood in the Centre of Hong Kong,” .2012
- “Apliu Street Flea Market.” Electronics Market in Kowloon – Go Guides, zh.hotels.com/go/hong-kong/apliu-street-flea-market. Accessed 14 May 2023.
4.Kindervater, David. “Black and White Photography: A Beginner’s Guide.” Photography Pro, 5 July 2021, photographypro.com/black-and- whitephotography/#:~:text=Black%20and%20white%20photography%20removes,d%20use%20in%20color%20photography.
- Minoia, Andrea. “How to Avoid Camera Shake for Sharper Photos (Photography Tips).” ExpertPhotography, 11 Apr. 2023, expertphotography.com/avoid-camera-shake-photography/#:~:text=Camera%20Shake%20and%20ICM&text=Car%20race%20photographers%20often%20use,sharp%20against%20a%20blurry%20background.
- Tay, Eddie. “Street Markets of Sham Shui Po: Going on a Dérive.” Hong Kong as Creative Practice, 2022, pp. 61–79, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21362-5_4.
- “What Is Time-Lapse? Learn about Timelapse.” What Is Time-Lapse? Learn about Timelapse, enlaps.io/us/timelapse. Accessed 14 May 2023.
- Cheng, Wing-yan. The Past, Present, and No-Future of an Industrial Heritage : The Leather Industry on Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, https://doi.org/10.5353/th_991044059192203414.
- Fok, Iman. 2007. “History of Sham Shui Po.” In SoCO, Our life in West Kowloon, Hong Kong: Society for Community Organization.
- Fong, Carolin. 2008. “Rhythmical Shamshuipo.” In SoCO, West Kowloon: Where life,Heritage and culture meet, pp. Hong Kong: Society for Community Organization
Yang Yifan
UID: 3035993816