Why is Hong Kong’s Ma Wan 1868 playing host to 5 Czech artists? We take a visit
During an open studio weekend, the artists are absorbed in making new works that draw inspiration from the surrounding natural landscape
Nestled in the shadow of Kap Shui Mun Bridge next to the Park Island private housing estate, Ma Wan 1868 is a surreal “lifestyle destination” built on the site of the historic village of Ma Wan after its previous residents were relocated or evicted.
At the converted pastel-coloured tourist attraction, which is now a year old, the past is obscured by kitsch. The year 1868 was when the village became a Chinese customs station for collecting taxes on the thriving opium trade. Now, the once derelict houses have been painted pink, yellow and blue and turned into art studios, souvenir shops and restaurants.
While the theme park setting does not yell sanctuary for the arts, it is currently home to five visiting Czech artists who are finding inspiration beyond the constant lift music piped through the streets.
Michal Bacak, Patrik Krissak, Marketa Kolarova, Nikola Emma Rysava and Zdenek Vacek are in Hong Kong for a one-month art residency. Coming from a country known for its rich craft traditions, they hand-make their works without short cuts.
The residency marks both an end and a beginning. This is one of the last events overseen by the Czech Consul General Klara Jurcova, a hyperactive and dedicated promoter of cultural exchange who has become a familiar face in the local arts scene during her four-year tenure in the city. This is also a pilot programme for the new WestK Academy, a branch of the West Kowloon Cultural District headed by Winsome Chow, the former head of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.