[Field-Homework 3] Disappearing City: Graham Street Market, Central

Video Link: 

https://youtu.be/BWN082XjED4

 

Text: 

Graham Street Market, situated in the heart of Central on Hong Kong Island, stands as one of the oldest and most vibrant traditional urban markets in the city. Established during the colonial era in the mid-19th century, the market has been a bustling hub of communal interaction and commerce for over 160 years. Here, locals and tourists alike delve into its narrow lanes filled with stalls bursting with fresh produce, seafood, and traditional Chinese goods. Despite the relentless march of modernization, with towering skyscrapers and ongoing construction encroaching upon its space, Graham Street Market retains a poignant connection to Hong Kong’s past.

The imminent disappearance of Graham Street Market can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors that reflect broader challenges faced by many traditional markets in rapidly urbanizing environments. Key among these challenges are the pressures from urban redevelopment, escalating hygiene concerns, and the erosion of cultural heritage. The market is a vivid microcosm of a community caught between the forces of preservation and progress, striving to maintain its identity amidst sweeping changes.

The Graham Street Redevelopment Scheme, initiated by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and slated for completion in 2024, is set to dramatically transform the area. This ambitious project represents a significant shift from a historically rich market environment to a modernized urban space. While the redevelopment promises economic growth and infrastructural improvements, it poses severe threats to the social fabric and cultural identity of the market community. The plan has sparked widespread concern among locals and conservationists, who fear that the redevelopment will fundamentally alter the character of the area and displace long-established social networks.

Compounding the market’s challenges are significant hygiene issues, exacerbated by its dense and chaotic layout. Located near ongoing construction and amidst heavy urban traffic, the market faces continual challenges in waste management and air quality control. These hygiene issues not only affect the health standards of the market but also impact public perceptions and patronage, as modern consumers increasingly prioritize health and cleanliness in their shopping environments.

Despite these pressing challenges, Graham Street Market remains a vital cultural artery within the local community. It serves as a place where daily interactions transcend mere economic transactions, weaving a tapestry of relationships and cultural practices that contribute to the social vitality of Central, Hong Kong. The market’s role as a community hub is crucial, nurturing a sense of belonging and continuity amidst the city’s rapid changes.

Therefore, this video essay delves deep into the themes of  Urban Redevelopment Pressures, Hygiene and Public Health Concerns, and Cultural Heritage and Social Bonds, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics at play within Graham Street Market as it faces the threats of urban redevelopment. By documenting the market’s transformation and highlighting the interplay between economic pressures and cultural preservation, the essay contributes to broader discussions about maintaining cultural heritage in modernizing cities. The ultimate goal is to advocate for development approaches that not only embrace modern needs but also respect and integrate the historical and cultural essence of traditional markets, ensuring they remain integral parts of the urban fabric.

Specifically, the video essay on Graham Street Market seamlessly integrates a carefully orchestrated on-site documentation strategy with a preliminary phase of online research. Several trips The video opens with an engaging sequence where a lemon rolls towards the market, capturing the viewer’s interest as it bounces along the bustling streets. Coupled with dialogues recorded on-site, this initial movement culminates in a wide shot that offers an expansive view of the market’s vibrant atmosphere, setting the scene for the narrative to unfold. The camera then zooms into a close-up as the lemon comes to a halt against a stall where it was originally sold, symbolizing the cyclical nature of market life and drawing the audience deeper into the market’s daily rhythm.

This dynamic introduction leads into a strategically structured three-part video narrative. The first section capitalizes on the bustling market scene, emphasizing the warm aspects of the market as a place of community spirit and belonging. Through a series of wide and POV shots, viewers are immersed in the vibrant interactions and colorful displays of produce, which showcase the market’s role as a central hub of social and economic activity. As the first part nears its end, the camera is strategically placed low to the ground, capturing dust swirling and the constant movement of feet—a visual hint at the transition to discussing hygiene issues. This ground-level perspective not only emphasizes the market’s bustling nature but also subtly introduces the viewer to the hygiene challenges that are explored in more depth in the second part.

Transitioning into the second part, the atmosphere shifts as a sad, slow soundtrack begins to play, reflecting the more troubling aspects of the market, particularly the hygiene issues that have become increasingly problematic. The use of close-up shots of hanging plastic bags serves as a poignant metaphor for the market’s looming disappearance. Just as the plastic bags sway in the breeze, caught up in the winds of change and controversy, so too is the market caught in the forces of urban redevelopment and modern hygiene standards.

The soundtrack’s melancholic tone deepens in the third section, echoing the relentless noise of the construction that surrounds the market. The camera angles intentionally shift from the lower plane of the bustling market scene upwards towards the towering cranes that cast long shadows over the stalls below. This visual progression symbolizes the overshadowing threat of redevelopment and the gradual encroachment of modern structures into the traditional market space.

Throughout the documentary, the audio component plays a crucial role, with microphones capturing the ambient market sounds of vendor negotiations and customer interactions, which are juxtaposed against the harsher sounds of nearby construction. This layered audio enhances the visual storytelling, providing a rich sensory experience that underscores the market’s vibrancy and the external pressures it faces.

Through these carefully chosen filming techniques and narrative structuring, the video essay not only portrays the bustling activity and cultural richness of Graham Street Market but also subtly underscores the existential threats posed by the surrounding urban development. This methodical approach to on-site documentation ensures that each visual and auditory element contributes to a comprehensive portrayal of the market, fostering a deeper appreciation for its heritage and raising awareness about the challenges it faces amidst Hong Kong’s rapid urban transformation.

 

He Ziyi 3035864003

Lin Youyuan 3036278043

(This is a two-people group project approved by the tutor, since we have two people working on this, we have a bit longer video clip and written text)

 

Bibliography:

 

Blake, Megan. “Stifling street life: The demise of Graham Street Market in Hong Kong.” GeoFoodie, 10 April 2014, https://geofoodie.org/2014/04/10/stifling-street-life-the-demise-of-graham-street-market-in-hong-kong/

 

“CULTURE OF DISAPPEARANCE: GRAHAM STREET MARKET (嘉咸市集), Central (中環), Hong Kong.” BLUE LAPIS ROAD, 26 Feb 2021, https://bluelapisroad.wordpress.com/2021/02/26/disappearing-living-culture-graham-street-market-%E5%98%89%E5%92%B8%E5%B8%82%E9%9B%86-central-%E4%B8%AD%E7%92%B0-hong-kong/

 

HK Magazine. “The Future of Graham Street Market.” South China Morning Post, 31 Oct 2013, https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2035802/future-graham-street-market

 

Kwok, Renee. “Graham Street Market.” HKIA Journal, no. 57, 2010.

 

Marinelli, Maurizio. “Hong Kong’s Socioeconomic Divide on the Rise.” Made in China, 8 Mar. 2022, https://madeinchinajournal.com/2022/03/08/hong-kongs-socioeconomic-divide-on-the-rise/

 

“Planning Brief for the Urban Renewal Authority Development Scheme at Peel Street/Graham Street (H18). Endorsed by the Town Planning Board on 10.11.2006.” (n.d.). Retrieved from Hong Kong Planning Department website: https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/resources/others_pdf/ura_development_scheme_peel_street_graham_street.pdf

 

Wright, Adam. “From Street-side Slaughter to Hipster Haven: Re-making the Oldest Wet Market in Hong Kong.” Hong Kong Free Press, June 13, 2021. https://hongkongfp.com/2021/06/13/from-street-side-slaughter-to-hipster-haven-re-making-the-oldest-wet-market-in-hong-kong/

 

Miyauchi, Yuri. “111004.” Little Forest. Soundtrack.

 

Sakamoto, Ryuichi. “Solitude.” Tony Takitani. Soundtrack, Milan Records, 2004.

 

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